CH 74.1

That night at nine, the restaurant is closed. Bai Yao is stuck in his thoughts while cooking their dinner.

He truly wishes Mu Mu’er can have more contact with people to build confidence and knowledge, but he’s also extremely worried about all the harm that could befall him, like when the customer yelled at him. He felt like carrying him away and hiding him back under that rock, so that he is never bullied again.

Normal people are capable enough defending themselves or talking back, but not Mu Mu’er. Not simply because of his circumstances, but also because he is too kind to understand malice.

In fact, when Bai Yao thought to have him act tough, Mu Mu’er was thinking about transforming so that he could look more appealing.

The pot boils. Bai Yao snaps back from his thoughts.

Cream seafood spaghetti is tonight’s meal. Fresh but not overwhelming, it’s perfect when eaten hot. A little fatty, sure, but he doesn’t make it often.

Bai Yao pours in seafood and condiments into a heated and oiled frying pan. Then he adds in milk and dry pasta; it’s his habit to cook the pasta directly in milk, believing it to help the flavour sink in better than if he pre-cooks it. After the spaghetti is well-done and absorbs the juices again, it’s done.

For presentation and added taste, he adds fresh basil, grated cheese and garlic flakes.

As Mu Mu’er finds milk disagreeable, he’s switched out the cream and bovine milk for almond milk. Everything else is according to recipe, but the only guarantee is that it wouldn’t taste like normal milk.

When he’s almost done, he yells outside to gather up for dinner. No reply comes, however.

Outside, Mu Mu’er has just finished speaking with Mu Yi on the phone, and is juggling his phone a little. His legs swing about under the desk, his feet free from the slippers. His ankles are thin and quite white.

The phone calls are typically one-sided. Mu Yi talks a lot, despite his rather distant appearance to everyone else, when it comes to his younger brother.

Mu Mu’er can’t help but lose attention over time, his thoughts drifting to who-knows-where. Maybe he’s wondering how many shells there are in the entire world.

Last time, when Bai Yao was finished and couldn’t find Mu Mu’er, he found a little sea otter upstairs instead, lying half-asleep on the carpet with a phone next to him, still going on about how the weather is cooling and he should wear more clothes and he’s going to visit when he’s free and yada-yada-yada.

Mu Yi had no idea that time that he was talking to a sea otter instead of a person.

Anyway, Bai Yao decides not to call out to Mu Mu’er for some reason, but returns to the kitchen to observe him through the window. He might not have heard, or he would have been hopping in, running circles around him a few times, and helping him put the plates onto the table.

Bai Yao serves two portions from the pasta in the stove. Then he starts spraying detergent on the kitchen counter while looking at Mu Mu’er.

He seems entirely oblivious, humming some unknown tune, relaxed, occasionally looking outside when a squirrel scuttles past the branches.

After singing, his attention shifts onto the seashells he’s put on the table. He starts organising them with a giddy look on his face; .

Since Mu Yi’s last visit, Bai Yao had a feeling he couldn’t quite put into words. Now, he thinks he understands what it is.

A love. Blossoming gradually. He’s fallen deeper and deeper for the boy. He wants to be with him at all times.

And even to…

Well, to kiss and embrace.

He walks outside, and Mu Mu’er is now apparently engaged in some form of staring contest with his seashells. At least, that’s a possible explanation for his widened eyes and blank stare while sitting frozen like a statue.

Bai Yao knocks on the table with his finger to get his attention, before asking, “hungry yet?”

Mu Mu’er reacts after a bit of time, before shaking his head on the table. Bai Yao looks a little serious, so Mu Mu’er looks around, looking a little guilty, before he sees his phone.

“Yaoyao, wants to talk to gege?”

Bai Yao has fallen into thought, and does not answer.

Mu Mu’er looks at the phone with screen turned off, and mumbles, “gege is gone…”

Bai Yao, distracted, is almost spooked assuming something happened to Mu Yi by the wording, when Mu Mu’er finally finishes his slow speaking, “from the phone. Yaoyao can only call next time.”

Bai Yao “…”

Mu Mu’er’s eyes then immediately glows as Bai Yao is putting their dinner onto the table. Bai Yao does not often cook such scrumptious and tasty meal for Mu Mu’er, telling him it’s very unhealthy. He can only eat cream spaghetti sometimes when Bai Yao is in a good mood.

He leans forward, licking his lips, ready to pounce.

Bai Yao suddenly moves the plate away, and before Mu Mu’er can protest, he asks, “what did gege talk to Mu’er about?”

Mu Mu’er is too distracted by the meal to think, and says without a second thought, “ask if Yaoyao bullied Mu’er.”

“And if Yaoyao did not give Mu’er food, if Yaoyao was sleeping with Mu’er, if Yaoyao was using the same blanket as Mu’er,” he answers, his eye fixated onto the plate of spaghetti.

Bai Yao knocks on the boy’s head lightly with his finger, and asks after the boy gives his attention back to him, “what did you tell him?”

“We sleep together! Always sticking to Yaoyao, using the same blanket!” Then he adds, “same blanket, good for holding hands.”

“I see, and?”

“He said Mu’er cannot tell Yaoyao. This is gege‘s secret with Mu’er,” Mu Mu’er blinks, looking innocent as always, “can Mu’er eat now?”

Great. A bit of delicious food and he’s already confessing. And there Bai Yao thought something shady was going on.

It’d honestly make others question if he really is that simple or just acting dumb.

Bai Yao strokes Mu Mu’er on the head and puts the plate in front of him. The boy happily grabs a fork to eat.

He’s finally no longer eating as hurriedly after such a long period of adjusting his behaviour. He no longer needs to be extremely protective and alert when eating, wrapping his hand around the plate to stay on guard. Now he’s able to eat properly, and chews properly before swallowing as Bai Yao told him to. Maybe he’s finally feeling a bit safer, Bai Yao thinks.

It’s a heartwarming scene just watching him eat, thinks Bai Yao as he plants his chin on his arm with a smile emerging on his face.

Hopefully, their relationship can continue to improve. Family. Or, maybe something closer to family.

Mu Mu’er is no longer eating right now for some reason. Instead, he’s blanking out looking at Bai Yao’s plate.

“What’s wrong?” Bai Yao wonders, and starts eating his spaghetti too. Huh, he didn’t forget to add salt, whatnot. It’s delicious.

Mu Mu’er asks quietly, “Mu’er wants to try Yaoyao’s.”

“The two plates are completely the same, little boy,” Bai Yao breaks into a chuckle.

Both cooked in the same pot on the stove, without the slightest difference. Well, he did grab some more seafood when plating Mu Mu’er’s portion. Five big shrimps there, for example.

“But Yaoyao’s plate looks more delicious,” Mu Mu’er’s eyes are determined. One might assume Bai Yao has been starving him from the look alone.

Sighing, Bai Yao pushes his plate over. Mu Mu’er watches it move in front of him.

Without a meal, Bai Yao can only watch Mu Mu’er eating his meal happily, and he starts daydreaming.

One little greedy sea otter Mu Mu’er really is.

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