Star Chief left Lu Mingming her contact information before making a hasty departure, returning to the judges' table.
Time flowed by as the remaining eight streamers concluded their judging.
As Lu Mingming had guessed, she led Cheng Shiqin by a slim margin of 1.2 points. The remaining rankings saw minor reshuffles, but the overall gaps were not significant.
By this time, the second round of the competition was nearing its end. The host stood on the central stage, announcing the content of the next competition.
The third round would take place at the Royal Academy of Sal City. Each streamer would receive a work nameplate and serve as a childcare intern teacher at the school for three days.
The method of victory was to earn the most red flowers from the students in the final evaluation.
Each streamer's cub would also participate in the scoring at the Royal Academy as students—a welfare condition officially provided by Xing Fu Star.
The so-called Royal Academy of Sal City was the most outstanding aristocratic academy for young children on the entire Xing Fu Star. Each class had only six students, and elite education was prevalent.
The childcare intern teachers were primarily responsible for the cubs' playtime and daily lives.
Although Xing Fu Star was a small planet, all planets adhered to the regulations of the Interstellar Alliance, with each planet sending exchange students to study.
Therefore, the students studying there were not only local nobles of Xing Fu Star but also cubs sent from other planets.
Being able to work as a legitimate childcare provider there was a great bestowed experience, something that could be put on a resume for bragging rights in the future.
Furthermore, having one's own cub attend for a period during their formative years might lead to making noble friends and broadening one's network, which would be a great asset and help for their future.
Moreover, this third round of the competition was not under real-time surveillance throughout, as had been the norm in previous years. Only the red flowers awarded to the streamers were to be tallied each evening.
As soon as the topic was announced, it captured the attention of all the streamers.
The streamers covered their mouths with their hands, whispering to each other, their faces unable to hide their excitement.
Even Cheng Shiqin, a streamer who had participated in numerous competitions, had not anticipated such a topic.
Lu Mingming noticed a flicker of awkwardness and discomfort in his eyes. He lowered his head, spat, and cursed in a low voice, "Damn it, are they playing with me this year?"
In short, no one had guessed the topic for the third round this year!
In previous years, the competition would involve completing similar tasks to the first and second rounds within the remaining day. Who would have thought that this year's random challenge would be so random?
For a moment, most of the streamers clenched their fists, cheering themselves on, their eyes filled with anticipation and ambition, eager for the third round of the competition to begin.
This was an excellent opportunity to improve themselves!
Even Lu Mingming felt a surge of passion and applauded expectantly from the audience seats.
This opportunity in the third round was worthwhile, even if it was just for the future of her own cub.
Lu Mingming could imagine how much time and effort the Star Chief had invested in making the childcare competition a significant event.
The other party truly hoped that Xing Fu Star could produce a senior childcare provider!
Lu Mingming decided that even bringing her cub along for the experience would be beneficial.
After the host officially announced the end of the second round, Lu Mingming hugged the little white tiger and returned to her hotel room.
She had been thinking about the third round of the competition along the way.
The competition would start the day after tomorrow, giving Lu Mingming two full days to rest and prepare, and also to search for information about the Royal Academy of Sal City on the Star Net.
Upon returning to her room, Lu Mingming's first action was to open the Star Net backend and apply to befriend the Star Chief.
There were many new red dots in her private messages today. Lu Mingming glanced at them briefly. Most were fans of the Nine-Tailed Fox streamer causing trouble, so she largely ignored them.
Looking at them would only waste her good mood. The best approach was not to look.
Hua Hua also sent a message, asking for Lu Mingming's residential address. The little one was likely offline again. It was estimated that after becoming popular from these two matches, she was strictly managed by the staff and hadn't had much time to go online.
Lu Mingming thought of Hua Hua's wronged expression, and couldn't help but laugh out loud in front of her two cubs, earning them confused glances.
Of course, she ultimately gave him the address generously.
For the third round, Lu Mingming would be competing elsewhere, and she might have very few opportunities to see Hua Hua again.
Besides that, Jasmine also sent a message.
The other party had watched the live broadcast and, timing it perfectly after Lu Mingming's match, sent her the nail clipper contract application.
It had to be said that the Alliance's work efficiency was indeed impressive; they had no intention of shortchanging a commoner like Lu Mingming.
Lu Mingming also searched the Star Net for companies related to the provided link; they were all well-known and reputable enterprises.
Furthermore, Lu Mingming saw an unexpected collaborator: Star Net.
Star Net had only had a few major partners for many years. How could they possibly be interested in her small bit of profit?
Lu Mingming had always had no contact with the Star Net officials. It was likely the Alliance that had found them.
Thinking this, Lu Mingming replied:
[Mianmian is Sleepy: Thank you to all the Alliance staff for their efforts recently. I didn't expect you to find Star Net as a platform for promotion. Thank you again!]
To this, Jasmine also expressed her surprise.
[Jasmine: You're too kind, but Star Net wasn't found by us. Star Net officially contacted us for cooperation. We were curious if it was someone you knew.]
If she had a partner working at a major Star Net company, would she need to stay in a sanatorium on Xing Fu Star for two years?
Lu Mingming raised her hand to her forehead, her expression thoughtful.
The events of the day had made Lu Mingming very suspicious.
With a Nine-Tailed Fox streamer being involved in a deeper conspiracy, she dared not tread into any more pitfalls.
Lu Mingming was typing on her screen, intending to ask for details.
The next second, Jasmine's words dispelled her wild thoughts.
[Jasmine: Perhaps the company's high-level executives watched the live broadcast together, haha.]
Jasmine's statement was half correct.
Because no one would have guessed that the developer of Star Net had ordered the cooperation, the staff responsible for the contact were also puzzled when they received the command.
That made sense. After all, the Star Chief was watching her live broadcast, so what was impossible?
Lu Mingming was half-believing this reason and didn't have time to think deeply when Jasmine's words directly interrupted her again.
[Jasmine: I used to be a mentor at the Royal Academy, so you should be careful with the cubs in Class A.]
[Jasmine: No, no, no, it's best not to be assigned to Class A! They are the most brilliant geniuses, prone to mischief and arrogance!]
[Jasmine: You must be careful of a deep gray giant rabbit named Hui Lan. If you need anything, come find me. I have to go to work now.]
She came and went quickly, not giving Lu Mingming a moment to ask questions, but leaving her with endless doubts.
She didn't know whether to call her unreliable or just unconcerned.
Lu Mingming sighed helplessly and flopped onto the bed, pulling the little Samoyed into a tight hug with one hand. With the other, she picked up a piece of candy, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth.
The sweet, soft sensation melted in her mouth, and finally, through her taste buds, it extinguished the lingering anxiety in her heart.
Without understanding what news Lu Mingming had just received to make her suddenly so dejected.
The little white tiger padded through the quilt, leaving paw prints, and walked to Lu Mingming's collarbone, curling up into a ball. Its tail openly wrapped around her neck.
After quietly clearing her mind and meditating for a while, Lu Mingming suddenly remembered something important…
She had promised alnr that she would sing for him after the competition!