Although An carefully concealed the fact that he was also raising fish in the bathtub, Yu Mian subconsciously exchanged a glance with Huo Ting and unsurprisingly caught the amusement in each other’s eyes.
“Ahem, who knows? Maybe the story will come true?”
Yu Mian coughed awkwardly and averted his gaze.
Back then, he had simply wanted to use the light brain device to connect to the star network and write novels, so he had secretly slipped out of the aquarium.
“Hm? You also think such a story could come true?”
After hearing Yu Mian’s words of encouragement before parting, An froze for a few seconds, feeling as if his brain was overloaded with information again.
Could this kind of situation actually happen? Was this also part of Teacher Fish Soup Noodles’ documentary literature?
Or was it simply that Teacher Fish Soup Noodles wanted to protect everyone’s beautiful fantasies, unwilling to criticize it like those black fans who dismissed it as just another hype-chasing trend?
However, as An watched Yu Mian’s departing figure, his mind raced for a long while before he suddenly reached out and slapped his face.
Wait a minute, was this the key point right now?
Shouldn’t the most crucial thing be that Teacher Fish Soup Noodles actually admitted that he was indeed a real mermaid!?
No wonder the hot search topic had hovered over the star network for a long time without coming down. When everyone flooded him with messages out of concern, they were instead comforted by Fish Soup Noodles himself.
“But looking at it now, I guess I was overthinking it back then.”
Lady Landis added with a smile.
“If Ke Ke and I hadn’t spoken up, maybe Fish Soup Noodles really would have shown his fishtail?”
In fact, it had been a very, very long time since she had last seen a mermaid in person.
There was still a sense of nostalgia.
“Ah, a fishtail?”
The more An listened, the wider his eyes grew.
Did this mean that fish fans across the entire star network had no idea what they had missed out on!?
And as an informed fish fan, he couldn’t just run off to the star network and excitedly share this shocking secret with the entire universe behind Teacher Fish Soup Noodles’ back.
An suddenly realized that this was practically a form of torture.
The heavens knew how much he wanted to share everything he had learned at this moment.
Especially with those hateful black fans!
“But maybe Fish Soup Noodles already has a plan.”
Seeing An’s face twisted into an expression of ultimate internal struggle, Lady Landis chuckled and added another remark.
Although their time together hadn’t been long, Lady Landis could tell that Yu Mian, this young mermaid, was not only gentle in temperament but also extremely principled.
Especially when it came to the kindness shown to him, he cherished and valued it deeply.
Back then, even though fish fans across the star network had no idea that Fish Soup Noodles was actually a mermaid, many of them still earnestly defended him against those who tried to question him.
Perhaps Fish Soup Noodles, who had never made an official public response, was waiting for the perfect opportunity to formally explain everything?
To put his worried fans at ease completely, and to ensure that those nitpicking critics could no longer make baseless comments.
Just like how people were still discussing the topic of mermaid tears on StarBlog, believing it to be some exaggerated form of psychological therapy.
After all, the mysteries of mental power remained one of the interstellar era’s unsolved challenges.
How could a single tear crystallized into a pearl possibly soothe and heal the mental sea?
It truly sounded unbelievable.
However, during the time when “The Vast Immortal Path” was reaching its grand finale and the mermaid short story continued to gain traction, Taoyuan Studios finally seized the opportunity and launched its first interstellar nurturing game.
“No matter how much those guys on the star network question it, once our game is released, everyone will fall in love with this feeling of warmth and beauty.”
“Exactly. Letting every reader believe that mermaids really exist and preserving this beautiful belief for a lifetime…isn’t that a wonderful thing?”
The original story by Fish Soup Noodles was so heartwarming and healing, so there was no way Taoyuan’s game adaptation could fall behind. They had to conquer every player with their craftsmanship.
“Besides, our game offers far more than just that.”
The now more confident and composed Derqin was looking forward to the first wave of feedback from readers across the entire universe after the game’s release.
On the first day of its launch, the first-ever interstellar nurturing game covered every major advertisement space across Central Star.
Even the Huanyu Tower also took the initiative to put on a light show to help with the promotion, while posters for the game could be seen everywhere in Central Star square.
Still soaking your scales in the bathtub waiting for a mermaid to appear?
Download the game app now, no need to wait, dive straight into the joy of raising fish!
[What!? Taoyuan actually launched the game this quickly? I’m camping out to download it right now. Who else feels this sheer happiness? Raising a fish with my own hands, this is everything! TwT]
[Okay, okay! So this is what it feels like to own the copyrights to your own IP. The novel just came out, and the game followed right after. I’m raising my precious fish cub no matter what the haters say!]
Fish fans everywhere were so excited they practically wanted to take off and fly in circles on the spot.
Everyone had already felt that the short story had ended far too soon, and after it was over, they had even engaged in a fierce online war of words with the black fans on the star network.
If it hadn’t been for the aquatic descendant fish fans stepping up to debunk the false rumors in real time, the situation could have driven everyone into a frenzy.
Now that the final issue of Star Beast World’s “Mysteries Of The Ocean” had been released on a wider scale, and the official game adaptation was steadily rolling out, didn’t this prove that neither Fish Soup Noodles nor the fans had been affected by the black fans in the slightest?
This was the feeling, it was just too cool.
Of course, along with the joy that had Central Star’s netizens screaming as if celebrating a new year, there were also the frustrated cries of fans from the outer star systems.
[Urgent! Why does our outer star system have to wait an extra day for the release!? Someone lend me a Central Star ID to register with, I’ll send you some ocean specialties in return! (emits high-pitched screeches)]
[Wuuu, if I can’t raise a fish, I’ll cry an entire ocean. I strongly demand simultaneous full-universe game releases in the future, why can’t this be a thing!?]
Even though the release delay between the Federation and the outer star systems was only one day, outer star fans couldn’t help but wail enviously after seeing Central Star players getting their hands on the game first.
Among them, the readers from the neighboring water planet were particularly vocal in their protests.
Even Taoyuan Studios was caught off guard as their official website’s comment section was suddenly flooded with an overwhelming number of messages from outer star IPs, all demanding the game be released simultaneously throughout the universe.
It’s just one night, is it necessary to be so exaggerated?
Yes. Yes, it absolutely was.
Because the first batch of anchors on Central Star who broadcast the trial version live on Federation Star made everyone so jealous after the footage was circulated.
Taoyuan’s signature breathtaking visuals were taken to the next level, and when it came to designing chibi mermaids and dreamy underwater scenes, they had poured every ounce of their skill into making it as heart-meltingly cute as possible.
[Who understands?! Especially when I first entered the game and the app asked me to name my little fish…it instantly transported me back to that beautiful night when I first read Teacher Fish Soup Noodles’ story!]
From the very beginning, player feedback was overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
The game’s content remained true to the descriptions in Fish Soup Noodles’ story. Players would unexpectedly bind to a mysterious app and personally raise a wary little mermaid in their fish tank.
As favorability levels increased, various plot events would be unlocked, and the world map would gradually expand.
The game ultimately featured three different endings: one BE, one HE, and multiple normal endings. Each ending came with exclusive illustrations that could be collected in an achievement gallery.
If the favorability level reached its maximum, it would trigger an exclusive hidden ending.
The little fish who had fallen for the player would offer a scale as a token of affection, and one day in the future, they would reunite at sea. From then on, the player could also take on both mermaid and human forms, traveling through the vast universe together.
Most importantly, the “Rainbow Reunion” ending illustration was the only one among all the achievement pictures where the little fish showed its fish tail and held the player’s hand.
So, when the first anchor, Feather Monster, worked hard all night and unlocked the hidden ending after seven consecutive days, the appearance of this ending image caused a sensation among players.
[This fish tail is way too beautiful! It looks just like a real mermaid, QAQ.]
[Right now, immediately, I must unlock this ending! (Biting my pillow with tears in my eyes)]
[All in all, I have my fish now, everyone! I don’t care! Welcome to witness my wedding with my fish! O///O Hehe, spinning in happiness!]
The explosive popularity of Taoyuan’s new game was overwhelming, making it the most talked-about topic, far outpacing any other games released during the same period.
This left other companies in the gaming industry so confused that they almost didn’t know what expression to make.
After all, Taoyuan now had multiple flagship games under its belt, a far cry from the rookie company it once was.
“But this time, it’s just a casual game. If players grind a little, they can unlock an ending in seven days. There are only a few endings, so the game’s lifespan shouldn’t be that long…”
Besides, Taoyuan never forced players to spend money or grind excessively.
While this approach was great for players, from the perspective of other gaming companies, it seemed like they were crippling themselves.
However, they were quickly slapped in the face.
Because just as the first batch of players who unlocked the mermaid ending were still basking in the joy of “I have a fish!”, they suddenly discovered that a whole new set of development options had been unlocked in the main menu.
Starting from the chibi mermaid, players could now raise chibi humans, chibi elves, chibi Bartians, and more…a true testament to the game’s commitment to racial inclusivity.
The core concept? Everything could be nurtured in chibi form.
Each race had its own unique development plotline, and Taoyuan made sure to consult experts on their respective backgrounds to ensure that every narrative stayed authentic.
For example, the plotline for the Bartians was overseen by none other than Miss Lilith.
[Wait, but the elf plotline… its writer is Producer Derqin?! Did I see that right? Boss, you are actually an elf?!]
[Derqin: Yes, I am. So every plotline is completely authentic.]
Derqin’s concise response on Starblog immediately sparked massive curiosity among netizens.
Initially, Derqin had been careful to keep his race a secret.
But after meeting Fish Soup Noodles, who treated him the same even after learning he was an elf, and after working in Taoyuan’s relaxed and friendly atmosphere for so long, he had unconsciously begun to change his mindset.
Of course, the real turning point was when he saw Fish Soup Noodles’ story being questioned by outsiders. It had made him very dissatisfied.
Isn’t it just special races?
As long as they extended an invitation sincerely, no race would be left out. This would also ensure that even if someone wanted to find fault with the plots, they would first think about whether they actually know more.
Taoyuan’s rigorous move indeed made many of the black fans who initially targeted the game adaptation speechless for the first time.
After all, this was different from the mermaid situation in the original story.
Who could confidently claim they knew more about elves than an actual elf?
Derqin’s response naturally gave the new game yet another surge in popularity.
It seemed that Fish Soup Noodles’ Taoyuan Studios really was a multi-racial-friendly company, even their main producer turned out to be a rare elf!
And with the newly expanded development options, the game’s playability doubled.
[Wait, does this mean they can keep adding more? If there are new special races in the future, could they also be added to the game?]
Many players realized that this game was practically a paradise for fans of development games.
As the game officially launched across the entire interstellar space, it unsurprisingly became a sensation across various star systems.
Gaming anchors started raising their little cubs in real time, frequently squealing from the cuteness on their light screens.
Meanwhile, Taoyuan’s backend analytics of player data revealed some fascinating trends, which caused another wave of heated discussion when made public.
For example, mermaids were undoubtedly the most popular choice, ranking as the undisputed TOP 1. Players from various star systems raised them repeatedly, aiming to unlock different endings and collect all the achievements.
Among them, the most passionate players were from the neighboring water planet.
On average, each player raised mermaids over twenty times, essentially spending an entire month doing nothing else but logging in every day to care for their fish.
[Ah, I thought I was already hardcore about raising my fish, but these people are the real pros.]
[These are the true masters. I’m convinced. Now I believe that the sales numbers for “Star Beast World” weren’t faked. Those neighbors of ours really did beat us to the sales crown.]
Interestingly, aside from mermaids, players from different star systems often chose to develop races they were curious about rather than their own.
For example, humans from the Federation favored elves and Bartians, while Bartian players, on the other hand, often chose to raise humans.
They even admitted that it was simply too cute, learning about different races in such an endearing way was a fascinating and novel experience.
It was impossible to resist!
Because of this, during a meeting in the Federation’s online conference hall…
“The trends and enthusiasm we’ve seen in recent times, aren’t they clear proof of the contributions this young author has made toward interstellar racial harmony? If you ask me, no one is more suited to be this year’s Special Talent Representative than Yu Mian.”
Looking at the final unanimous approval of the voting results, Chairman Michaels’ smile was almost unrestrained.
With that, the annual special races official policy press conference was formally announced. This year, due to the game’s popularity, the event attracted even more attention on the star network.
After all, each year, numerous data points and policies were released, providing a more detailed and in-depth understanding of the distribution and future development direction of special races within the Federation Star.
At the same time, it also served as a platform to showcase the Federation Star’s emphasis on and friendly attitude toward special races to the entire universe.
[The most important part is that every year, we get to see the representatives of special races attend, hehe. The cheetah reporter sister from last year was super cool.]
[Agreed. I hope more and more little friends can join our Federation Star. After reading Teacher Fish Soup Noodles’ stories and playing the game for so long, I really, really want to have a special race friend in real life.]
[I’ve already decided to send my graduation resume directly to Taoyuan. I want to see what Producer Derqin looks like in person. I heard Taoyuan’s company has many other talented special races as well.]
Just as everyone was chattering away in excitement, they suddenly stumbled when they reached the final section of this year’s guest list.
[Yu Mian (Pen Name: A Bowl Of Fish Soup Noodles/ YU)]
Uh…Fish Soup Noodles was actually invited as a representative this year?
[Wait, Teacher Fish Soup Noodles’ works are indeed extremely popular across all major star systems, with a massive special races readership. Was the invitation an exception due to that?]
[That’s right. I remember all the past invitees were special races. Teacher Fish Soup Noodles is amazing.]
[But isn’t this arrangement completely reasonable? Inviting Teacher Fish Soup Noodles to attend the event, I bet the number of people watching from outer star systems will multiply dozens of times. If any black fans dare to question this, I will seriously get aggressive. O皿O#]
For a moment, everyone was in disbelief, and the comment section exploded with heated discussions.
Fish fans thought ahead and started worrying about black fans using this as an excuse to stir up drama, like claiming their Teacher Fish Soup Noodles had deep connections or an influential background.
However, before the hot search could even officially climb the charts, Yu Mian, who had become increasingly aware of his natural tendency to attract storms, took the initiative to address it on his StarBlog account.
[A Bowl Of Fish Soup Noodles V: Although, is there a possibility that…Teacher Fish Soup Noodles is actually one? OvO Thank you very much for the official invitation. It’s an honor to attend, and I welcome everyone to tune in when the time comes! // Repost: …]
The entire star network: ???
