CH 55

I Want to Take Him Away

Translated by boilpoil

Edited by boilpoil

Xishi’s river flows out into the coastline of Qiaohai; a transformed Mu Mu’er swam out to sea as a sea otter. He met other sea otters there, and lived with them for six years.

However, sentient sea otters are practically different species from real otters. It was not surprising he was excluded and bullied.

Bai Yao clarifies when Mu Mu’er finishes speaking, “he’s referring to other sea otters by ‘friends.'”

Mu Yi doesn’t say anything for a while, and takes a few deep breaths. He then nods.

“Not actually friends. They don’t want to be friends with Mu’er,” Mu Mu’er continues speaking whatever he remembers, “they are angry. Their bites are painful.”

He shrinks a little saying this, holding the sea otter plushie dearly in his lap.

Mu Yi can see he doesn’t really want to continue recounting, and changes the topic to ask, “what about when you’re hungry? What do you eat?”

Mu Mu’er doesn’t need any time to think to answer, “Mu’er eats, what sea otters let Mu’er eat.”

“Mu’er has to give them scallops. Or they bite. They bite if Mu’er has no food either,” Mu Mu’er nods, “mm… It hurts.”

“Mu’er has no scallops; Mu’er eats, eats green seaweed.”

By this point, Mu Yi’s expression turns grim. He looks awful.

Mu Mu’er might not know a lot of things, but he’s sensitive with emotions. He immediately notices Mu Yi’s frustration.

He slowly lets go of Bai Yao’s hand, and leans forward a little to observe. He’s a little scared of Mu Yi, but his clear distress makes him hesitant. Then, he slowly extends his hand, to touch Mu Yi’s hand like he would Bai Yao’s.

He doesn’t dare hold it though, but only touches him on the back of his hand for reassurance; he himself is leaning back a little, like he’s ready to dash if Mu Yi so much as frowns at his approach.

Mu Mu’er is a kind soul. He wouldn’t stand idly by when someone is visibly suffering. He looks like he is the epitome of ‘wishing well on everyone.’

“Gege, don’t be sad. Seaweed taste ok too,” he mumbles.

That’s a lie. Sea otters are carnivorous, not omnivores. They enjoy crab meat, abalone, sea urchins and other sea mollusks. Seaweed is enough to sustain them, but not fill them.

Mu Mu’er makes a little panicked ‘mm’ when Mu Yi does not seem to improve in mood, and he looks back helplessly at Bai Yao.

“Cannot chew, but taste ok.”

Mu Yi is, despite his faults, Mu Mu’er’s older brother. Mu Mu’er’s deepest memories of his older brother was that of their last argument; he doesn’t remember what they were arguing about, but he does remember his older brother telling him to leave. He doesn’t remember what he did after he left.

However, outside of the argument, he also had the impression that his older brother treated him really well. He let him ride on his shoulders. He played all over the city with him, running around.

When he was very, very small, he remembers they both would transform to flop in front of their parents and shock them.

There is a segment in his memory. They were lighting firecrackers during New Year’s, but the firecrackers exploded right in front of them when they barely lit them up.

Mu Yi reacted very quickly, and immediately embraced him. Mu Mu’er was not wounded by the exploding firecracker, but Mu Yi suffered burns to his legs.

Mu Mu’er doesn’t remember much of their late childhood, in contrast. His older brother was a bit more serious. He couldn’t ride on his shoulders anymore, and he would argue with him whenever he transformed.

The scant few memories and impression isn’t enough for Mu Mu’er to conclude whether he was not close to his older brother anymore. After their parents went away, Mu Yi became a lot less fun to him. He was like his new parents. Mu Mu’er remembers he was not happy when Mu Yi would check his homework, find private teachers for him, or tell him how long he could play each day. He had to have good results in tests, and go to this specific high school.

Mu Mu’er was unfamiliar with this ‘new’ Mu Yi, and their relationship was strained after the divorce.

Still, no matter what, Mu Yi was Mu Mu’er’s dear older brother.

The only other person Mu Mu’er knows, and would still unconditionally try to rely on.

Mu Yi, meanwhile, can see Mu Mu’er’s hand on his own. His breathing becomes ever gentler, like he’s worried he’d scare off the boy who’d fly off like a hummingbird.

Before he could say anything, though, Mu Mu’er has already taken his hand back to hold Bai Yao’s hand again.

Mu Yi’s eyes have a longing to them.

“It’s ok. Mu’er has Yaoyao now!” Mu Mu’er declares.

Mu Mu’er pushes his soft cheeks into Bai Yao’s shoulders, sticking to him like a little sugar glider.

The thirteen-year-old boy who lost his home and even lost his human identity was unable to call for help. He could only live amongst sea otters in the ocean.

He couldn’t imagine how Mu Mu’er survived all these years; just trying to is like spreading a metal net over his heart and squeezing, until blood seeps out.

“Yaoyao gave Mu’er big scallops, and water!” Mu Mu’er hops from the chair to point out to the big inflatable pool for Mu Yi.

“Gege, look!”

Mu Yi looks, and his eyes are immediately assaulted by the bright pink inflatable pool in the garden.

When Mu Mu’er isn’t swimming, Bai Yao would push the pool away into a corner of the garden; it’s half-visible from their current angle.

The morning sunlight reflects brilliantly off the stagnant waters from yesterday, flickering.

“I didn’t know you like pink,” Mu Yi can’t help but comment, seeing the ‘Balala the Fairies‘ characters printed on.

Bai Yao chuckles, “pink, purple, red; I like them all.”

Before Mu Yi can speak again, his phone rings. He rejects the call while knitting his brows at the caller information displayed.

Less than a minute later, the phone rings again.

Mu Yi puts his phone back in his pocket, and finally says, “I can’t spend too much time in Qiaohai. I have work to do.”

He does not speak further, but it’s painfully obvious what would follow.

Bai Yao knows, at least, even though he finds it too quick; he wishes the moment would never come.

This isn’t really Mu Mu’er’s home. He might want Mu Mu’er to stay forever, but it’s not up to him.

“Mu’er,” Mu Yi waits until Mu Mu’er is looking at him before smiling to ask, “can you give gege another glass of water?”

“Oh,” Mu Mu’er looks at the glass of water almost entirely intact in front of Mu Yi, but takes it without question, and heads for the kitchen.

Bai Yao’s eyes follow Mu Mu’er, until he enters the kitchen, when he says, “you can speak directly whatever you want to say without sending him away.”

Mu Yi shakes his head, though, “there are some things better said in private.”

“I’m listening.”

“I want to take my little brother back to the city.”

His little brother. Mu Yi had an emphasis.

Bai Yao does not speak.

Mu Yi was expecting this, and continues soon enough.

“I admit full responsibility that he… that he suffered. I don’t know if I can still make up for it, but I must do whatever I can.”

“You’re a snow leopard, aren’t you? I know one from my business dealings; you are solitary creatures.”

“True,” Bai Yao smiles and replies, “but not any more.”

Bai Yao doesn’t even know why Mu Yi had to ask or convince him.

Mu Yi didn’t have to. He’s Mu Mu’er’s actual family. While Mu Mu’er is already an adult, but he now has special needs, that only his legal guardian, Mu Yi can provide.

Bai Yao is in no position to speak if Mu Yi should decide to take Mu Mu’er go. He doesn’t need his permission, and nothing Bai Yao can do can change that.

In fact, Mu Yi is justified if he just takes Mu Mu’er away from Qiaohai with or without informing Bai Yao or getting his consent.

He’s an outsider. All he did, was help out that wandering little sea otter that one day out of the goodness of his heart.

Bai Yao does not believe in predestination or fate, but he does believe Mu Mu’er has become an inseparable part of himself. The little sea otter has found a hole in his mind he didn’t even knew he had, and happily made himself comfortable within. Giving it casual licks now and then to help it heal.

Bai Yao gave his heart away as a new home for Mu Mu’er, who, in turn, warms up his chest, and lights a little lively light in the little home, so that Bai Yao’s heart is bright forevermore.

As long as Mu Mu’er remains, Bai Yao will be guided by light, by a flame that burns for him, lit by him.