Qi Ya sighs when no answer comes from Bai Yao, “don’t take this the wrong way, but you did basically pick someone up from the street and have taken pity on him. Still, that ‘he’ is an adult, grown man who you’re now living together with. Does any of this not sound strange to you?”

Bai Yao knits his brows a little at the uncompromising description. Qi Ya then changes the question – asking him how the other townsfolk would think of them. Finally, after talking a lot, he asks, “so did you actually think about what the relationship between you and him is?”

“I saved him,” Bai Yao thinks and answers, hesitantly, “he’s an animal rescue.”

“My job is to rescue animals. I’ve saved panthers, wolves and pandas, even stray dogs. You don’t look at him like you look at an animal you saved,” says Qi Ya, with a serious tone, glancing at the sofa behind Bai Yao.

Bai Yao sighs, and asks, “then what do I look like looking at him?”

“You know the answer.”

Bai Yao harrumphs, “you don’t know my answer. He and I aren’t that complicated.”

Qi Ya doesn’t buy it. He continues trying to persuade his friend, “didn’t you always want to spend your days with a human? You’ve changed your mind to a sea otter instead?”

“Did you forget about Wen Yue already?” Qi Ya’s mouth lets slip a name, “is that bastard of a rabbit still harassing you?”

He continues until Bai Yao’s expression turns quite grim, “I still follow his Weibo; he sure knows what he’s doing. His popularity is pushing him into the list. All the big brands are trying to secure a contract with him. He’s sure getting quite showy…”

Bai Yao first knit his brows harshly when he heard the name, and now his face is quite dark, “shut up about him, will you?”

Qi Ya finally realises he shouldn’t have mentioned him. He shrinks a little and raises his hand in defeat, “alright, alright.”

Most beastkin would look for human spouses, because their children will always be human. The beastkin aspects will not inherit at all. They will also hide their beastkin identity forever, even from their own family.

While Bai Yao is homosexual, but they are a snow leopard and a rabbit, which is quite unusual for a relationship dynamic already, and so it’s not surprising they broke up in the end. Not to mention, there are all the things that happened leading up to the rift.

The mood has sunk quite a lot, and Qi Ya tries thinking about how to smooth over to another topic, when Bai Yao has already moved on, “it isn’t just Mu Mu’er either. I can’t just leave the restaurant unattended for a whole day.”

Qi Ya mumbles a little, before suggesting, “it’s not like we haven’t had an outing where you just stuck a notice that you’ll reopen the day after tomorrow. Your actual worry is something else.”

Bai Yao says nothing.

“Ever since we knew each other, you’ve never been a complacent soul. Don’t overthink it. You both have your lives to live; feel like taking a short trip? Then go.”

“I’ll be leaving tomorrow. I wish I’d see you and him with me.”

They’re at the backdoor at this point. Bai Yao opens the door, “I get it. I’ll think about it.”

Qi Ya knows that Bai Yao is already halfway persuaded when he says so. It’s best if he stopped persuading here for maximum effect, “alright. I’ll be packing my stuff. Shoot me a message if you’re coming.”

Bai Yao stands at the door for a while before going back upstairs.

He finds it pleasant to live with Mu Mu’er; in fact, the days when he lived alone felt so distant to him already.

It’s like time has started to fly ever since he met Mu Mu’er. He is no longer repeating the routine of prepping, opening the restaurant, cooking and cleaning. Instead, he occasionally teases the cute little sea otter, or trying to work out which food he craves the most as of late.

Bai Yao also knows Qi Ya is right. Not just about taking Mu Mu’er outside to see people and places, but also the question about who Mu Mu’er is to Bai Yao.

Who, then?

He never asked Mu Mu’er about his older brother, partly, because of fear.

Fear of something he does not know how to put into words.

Regardless, it is definitely better for Mu Mu’er to visit the city for fun.

He remembers how well Mu Mu’er was able to handle himself when he took Mu Mu’er to the town’s markets, and how much fun he looked like he was having.

It will be fine. He is simply being too paranoid.

Bai Yao watches Mu Mu’er for a bit at the end of the stairs before walking into the living room area.

Mu Mu’er sees Bai Yao enter, and reflexively moves the phone back to hide it. He knows Bai Yao doesn’t want him to play with the phone for a long time, but he’s been playing for over an hour straight.

The words ‘guilty’ are printed on his face when Bai Yao sits next to him. He looks like a kitty that’s pushed something off the desk; he knows he’s in the wrong, but he’s also hoping he wasn’t noticed.

The boy’s thoughts are always clear as day. Bai Yao watches his internal struggles with amusement, while waiting for his eventual decision.

Mu Mu’er really doesn’t have to always behave so well. Bai Yao thinks the boy can afford to be a little more rebellious. It’s cute, like, well, a naughty, spoilt kitten. Not threatening, and exploring the world with soft, furry paws.

Finally, Mu Mu’er takes the phone back out obediently, but tries to distract Bai Yao instead – showing him the phone’s screen.

“The Rabbit is sleeping again. Mu’er has been waiting for it to wake up,” Mu Mu’er looks back at the phone, mumbling to himself, “it is always sleepy. It sleeps even more than Mu’er.”

‘Carrots’ are the currency of the game, which allows the player to buy food for the Moon Rabbit, or to buy new furniture for its house. There are also features like taking a trip on trains or cruise liners.

Carrots are not that easy to earn, though. Mu Mu’er has been saving ever since he started playing, but right now, he only has 874 Carrots. He tilts his head, thinking about them for a long time, but still cannot work out how long this will feed the Rabbit. He is worried it would starve.

Is a Carrot a day enough?

Mu Mu’er thinks about when he is hungry. He can eat a whole plate of scallops.

… Then that means it is probably not enough.

Mu Mu’er has already forgotten about hiding the phone. Instead, his attention is drawn to a giant Carrot airship floating inside the game on-screen.

Bai Yao thinks about it, then pokes Mu Mu’er on the arm to catch his attention, “Yaoyao has something to tell you.”

Bai Yao’s tone draws Mu Mu’er’s attention entirely. He puts down the phone, and also makes a serious nod, “ok. Yaoyao can speak, Mu’er will listen.”

He hears Bai Yao ask, “Mu’er, do you feel bored staying here?”

“Not bored, not bored,” Mu Mu’er immediately shakes his head, “we can talk. Mu’er likes it.”

Bai Yao then asks, “Mu’er, do you want to visit the big city?”

Mu Mu’er goes quiet, and tilts his head, like he doesn’t understand, before repeating, “big city?”

The boy’s hesitant tone makes Bai Yao unsure if Mu Mu’er might be scared. He regrets asking a little, and decides against the plan after all; however, Mu Mu’er suddenly asks quietly, “are there big seashells in the big city?”

Bai Yao chuckles a little at the question, and covers his mouth a little while answering, “yes, as big as Mu’er wants. They’re all there.”

“Really?” Mu Mu’er’s eyes are shining brightly. He excitedly draws a big circle with both arms, even bigger than he himself, “is it as big as, this?”

Bai Yao answers with amazement, “wow! Then maybe not. That scallop would be even bigger than Mu’er!”

Mu Mu’er smiles. The tips of his canines and his little dimples are showing. He’s cute.

“Mu’er, do you still want to go? They might not have big, big seashells.”

“Yes, Mu’er wants to go!” Mu Mu’er answers, “go with Yaoyao!”