CH 57.1

Please Remember to Bring Him Back, I Beg You

Translated by boilpoil

Edited by boilpoil

With Bai Yao’s unspoken consent, Mu Yi wants to waste no time in bringing Mu Mu’er back to Xishi.

He’s already stayed too long in Qiaohai, and there are too many documents he must personally review in his company. He needs to go back quick.

“Mu’er, sit down here,” outside the kitchen, Mu Yi points to the seat near the restaurant entrance.

Mu Mu’er sits down with the glass of milk tea; his attention is quickly drawn to a little squirrel outside. Only when the little squirrel has run away does he stop looking at it.

Bai Yao doesn’t go any further than the kitchen door. He is gripped with a deep sense of sorrow for the coming separation.

He doesn’t want to get any closer lest he hears what they say. He just stands there, telling himself over and over again that it is for the best that Mu’er leaves him for the big city.

“Gege has to tell you something,” Mu Yi speaks slowly and clearly in front of Mu Mu’er.

Mu Mu’er nods, but keeping his neck raised proves exhausting enough that he immediately pulls on Mu Yi’s hand, “gege, sit too.”

Mu Yi slowly sits down after a bit, scrutinising the boy’s expression and apologising first, “Mu’er, are you still angry with gege?”

“No, Mu’er is not angry,” Mu Mu’er touches Mu Yi on the back of the man’s hand with his free hand.

It’s really easy for Mu Mu’er to forgive someone; no matter what anyone did to him, his good nature means he’d easily see everyone through rose-tinted glasses.

He isn’t even sure why Mu Yi is apologising. Yet the reason is not important to him.

However, no answer comes. Mu Mu’er looks for Bai Yao by instinct, as he thinks he might have said something wrong, and Mu Yi didn’t actually want to hear that. Yet Bai Yao is not by his side as usual, or giving him reassuring pats on the back.

Before Mu Mu’er can figure out why this is, Mu Yi takes hold of his hand, “Mu’er, do you like the big city? Do you want to live in the big city with me?”

‘Big city’ is the lively place he went with Bai Yao before. Mu Mu’er remembers the food, the mall, the pretty clothes, and that person waving at him outside the window.

These are all things he has never seen in Qiaohai, and remembers quite deeply.

His attention drifts a little, and he tilts his head, asking, “Mu’er likes the city. The city has snacks?”

Mu Yi nods, “it does.”

“A big bathtub?”

“Gege will find one as big as you want.”

“Then, is Yaoyao there? Yaoyao has to be there with Mu’er.”

Mu Yi does not answer immediately. He thinks for a bit, and avoids the question, “there will be lots of snacks and a big bathtub, and everything Mu’er wants.”

Mu Mu’er does not say anything for a bit, still looking at Mu Yi with a curious expression.

Mu Yi thinks he might need a bit more convincing, and is about to continue listing examples, when Mu Mu’er shakes his head and frowns a little.

“Gege did not say if Yaoyao will be there,” Mu Mu’er might be slow on the uptake, but he’s sensitive with emotions and can tell that Mu Yi did not answer his very important question.

“Mu’er, gege is not married. I have no children either, and have kept the room in the house for you to move back in, always,” Mu Yi looks deeply into Mu Mu’er’s eyes, “come back with me. I’ll give you anything you need.”

“Gege has always been waiting for you.”

“Yaoyao? Is Yaoyao going to go together?” Mu Mu’er turns to Bai Yao’s direction and asks loudly.

He has his glass of milk tea in hand, and his legs swing about a little. Bai Yao is usually always close by, but for some reason, he is not coming to hold hands today.

For Mu Mu’er, snacks and a big bathtub is not the most important. The most important for him is Bai Yao.

Between his older brother and Bai Yao, he believes Bai Yao is more important.

Bai Yao, meanwhile, is doing his best to maintain a poker face, that he does not reveal how much he cannot bear seeing Mu Mu’er go.

They are different people, and he will not be part of his life forever. Frankly, there is not a relationship between them strong enough to justify being inseparable.

If they continued living together for much, much longer, perhaps that relationship will have come naturally, but that time is not now.

Before Mu Yi can say anything, Bai Yao can’t hold himself in anymore. He takes a few steps, and tells Mu Yi quietly, “let me talk to him by myself.”

Mu Yi seems hesitant, but nods in the end.

When he’s outside, Bai Yao steels himself, and crouches in front of Mu Mu’er, so that their eyes are about level. He calls out to him gently, “Mu’er.”

Mu Mu’er might not be able to guess what he is about to say, but he can sense the deep emotions charged within.

Ever since his older brother came to visit every day, Bai Yao has become a bit more distant. He would only hug and hold hands when Mu Yi is not looking.

These are changes worrying to Mu Mu’er. He is even a little bit scared, scared like when other sea otter would chase after him when he found food.

He ran and ran and swam, but he has hardly ever succeeded.

He thinks about it for a bit, and decides it must be because Bai Yao is unhappy with him. Frightened by his thoughts, Mu Mu’er brushes his hands lightly across Bai Yao’s arm, and quickly says, “Yaoyao, don’t be angry. Mu’er is listening.”

Bai Yao almost stops breathing. Keeping the urge to just give him a hug right here, right now in check, he explains, “I’m not angry. Mu’er, you are going to live in the big city with your gege. You will have lots of little snacks. You can tell your older brother about anything else Mu’er wants.”

“Yaoyao will be there?” Mu Mu’er’s eyes widen a little, “together with Yaoyao?”

He thinks about the last time they went to the city with the noisy Qi Ya, but this time, it is with his gege. They will buy pretty clothes, eat delicious food, and see a durian-scented weasel like last time.

Bai Yao shakes his head, however.

The denial confuses Mu Mu’er, “why not?”

“Yaoyao’s home is here. Yaoyao has to stay behind,” Bai Yao holds Mu Mu’er’s fingers lightly.

“But Mu’er’s home is also here. Mu’er has to be with Yaoyao,” Mu Mu’er then seems to realise something after he replies with a smile, “Yaoyao… does Yaoyao not want to share the home with Mu’er anymore?”

Mu Mu’er says the words more and more slowly, as he does his best to work out Bai Yao’s mind and intentions. He looks deeply troubled by the prospects that he might be right.