CH 56.2

During the next two days, Mu Yi would come over every day and sit a few hours in Bai Yao’s restaurant, just to chat with Mu Mu’er occasionally.

He has extended his stay and told his assistant to cancel more of his conferences and push work for later.

In fact, he’s even brought his laptop over to resolve his business dealings in order to be closer to Mu Mu’er; he is happy just being able to watch over him. He doesn’t ask for Mu Mu’er to like him as family again in return immediately.

Mu Mu’er goes from keeping a wary distance to becoming more familiar and chatty, and no longer has the urge to hide between Bai Yao now.

And Bai Yao is often busy working in the restaurant, unable to accompany Mu Mu’er full time. He’d often leave the kitchen to see the boy gladly chatting away with Mu Yi. One wonders what Mu Yi must have said to amuse the boy.

Perhaps it’s because they’re brothers. The rift created from six years’ separation has almost disappeared overnight.

Mu Yi also does not appear annoyed at all with Mu Mu’er now that he has become intellectually challenged. He accepts his family no matter what they become.

Bai Yao understands it’s definitely not as easy as Mu Yi is making it out to be on the surface. He met Mu Mu’er when he was already slightly… slow like this. Mu Yi, however, needs to accept his mischievous little brother becoming different from normal people.

Today, after a breakfast at ten, Bai Yao is making milk tea for Mu Mu’er, while Mu Yi has joined Mu Mu’er in playing with his seashell collection.

The caramel milk tea made with Biluochun leaves has a smooth texture and heavy aftertaste. Most importantly, it is mild in sweetness, tempered by a slight bitterness. This makes it the perfect drink for late summer and early autumn days.

When Mu Mu’er tried this after Bai Yao made some the other day, he immediately fell in love with this ‘100 times better than water’ drink. If only he didn’t need Bai Yao to make it for him, then Mu Mu’er would gladly replace water with it.

This drink isn’t offered in the menu of the restaurant either, making it unique to Mu Mu’er.

Outside the kitchen, Mu Yi is talking to Mu Mu’er. Bai Yao’s good hearing allows him to hear them clearly if he focuses his attention on it. He doesn’t have an interest in eavesdropping though, so he focuses his attention on his stirrer and the caramel and tea leaves within the pot. Otherwise, they burn easily.

With the milk added, the tea leaves start to float and sink almost with a rhythm, spinning around along with the near-boiling milk. The kitchen smells of fragrant tea.

The rather dark colour of the beverage suggests to Bai Yao he ought to reduce the amount of tea leaves next time, if he still wants Mu Mu’er to be able to fall asleep that night. While caffeine is an issue, if there are too few tea leaves, that would make it a rather bland diluted milk; like milk with some extra sugar.

He almost falls into a hypnotic trance watching the liquid swirl. When he comes back to, there are already footsteps in the kitchen.

Mu Yi is looking at the contents of the pot, and tilts his head a little, confused, “did you add too much water in your congee?”

“… What sort of congee have you been eating to get that impression?”

Bai Yao looks around, but Mu Mu’er hasn’t followed after his older brother, so he asks, “where’s Mu’er?”

“Upstairs. He wants to play with the Rabbit game.”

This morning, Bai Yao has left his phone on the bedside cabinet to charge. Mu Mu’er has been waiting for an opportunity; Bai Yao appears busy cooking in the kitchen now, so he decides it’s a good time to sneak upstairs.

Bai Yao can’t help but smile a little.

Mu Yi leans by the doorway and looks around. The kitchen is as immaculate and orderly as ever. Six pots on the stove, all polished to a shine; the marks and several chippings here and there indicate how well-used they are, however.

They stand in silence for a while, listening to the sound of the milk tea bubbling.

After a while, Mu Yi picks a topic, “what… does he like eating?”

Bai Yao answers without hesitation, “anything. He’s not a picky eater.”

That’s only half the truth. Mu Mu’er is not picky, and his eyes glow at any food presented, but his favourites are sweets and sea mollusks. Bai Yao isn’t sure if it’s because of the meat within or the seashell outside for the latter.

Mu Yi has been working in his executive position of a major company for five years, making him rather unaccustomed to such small talks. He deliberates, and decides now is as good as ever to speak frankly to Bai Yao.

“Let him go back with me. He’s the young shaoye of the Mu family. This is not the place for him; you cannot provide most of what he needs.”

Bai Yao appears unchanged outwardly, discounting the fact that his stirring spoon has come to a stop. He reflexively tenses up, but forces himself to relax immediately. His shoulders barely avoid stiffing up.

“Are you married?” Bai Yao asks slowly, “do you have children?”

Then he pauses, and adds, “Mu’er cannot cope with loneliness at all. Can you promise that you’ll devote all your time to him?”

“Yes,” Mu Yi answers without hesitation, adding before Bai Yao has even finished speaking, “I’m unmarried, with no children. I’ve always been waiting for my younger brother to come home.”