CH 37.2

Mu Mu’er sits right down on the ground, and raises an arm with his back to Bai Yao. He paws at his pocket with his other paw, and finally, retrieves a scallop.

A big one, even slightly bigger than Mu Mu’er’s paw. Bai Yao has no idea how it managed to fit in the pocket below his armpit.

With both arms holding it in place and some smooth movements, he knocks it on the ground a few times without damaging the flooring but producing a crack in the scallop, then he begins chomping, and the shell cracks open.

Mu Mu’er starts eating directly, digging up one big piece of meat from within. A bite takes half of it, and he’s quite content, seemingly forgetting there is a Bai Yao around at all.

“???”

Bai Yao’s forehead is twitching, “when did you manage to grab that?!”

Bai Yao thinks he might be becoming a bit dull compared to the scheming little sea otter. Mu Mu’er seems to understand him even better than he does, and knows exactly how to best him.

Even when it comes time to sleep, Mu Mu’er does not transform. After a soothing bath in the bathroom, he saunters his way pridefully onto Bai Yao’s bed… Well, he wasn’t tall enough, and Bai Yao had to help him up by the butt.

When Bai Yao also lies down on the bed, Mu Mu’er immediately sticks close to his body, and puts his paw in his palm, looking at him, blinking.

The sea otter has too thick a coat of fur like he’s a sentient electric blanket. Bai Yao thinks he’ll burst into flames if this goes on, so he pokes Mu Mu’er on the head, “… back to human. It’s too hot to hold you.”

Mu Mu’er mumbles for quite a while before finally turning back again. He’s butt naked, but doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to find any clothes either. It’s up to Bai Yao to get off the bed and get him pyjamas.

Finally, all is well. Though Mu Mu’er is still looking at Bai Yao while holding hands. He looks like he has something to say, winking but not willing to shut his eyes.

Bai Yao, unable to sleep being stared at, opens one eye to look at him, while considering if it is too late to order an eyepatch for him.

“Where did big fluffy cat go?” Mu Mu’er blinks, seemingly a little shy. He’s too curious, though, and he wanted to see the big cat the whole day.

It was very floof. He wanted to pet the fluffy.

He squeezes himself into Bai Yao’s lap again, but it is not as comfortable. He retreats, with a long, disappointed face.

On the stormy night, he slept on the soft tummy of the big snow leopard. Obviously, it was much more comfortable, like having a life-sized fluffy toy. The big cat also purrs, and is practically a massage machine in that respect.

Now that the fluffy cat is gone, Mu Mu’er has found Bai Yao’s body too firm relatively. It’s not as comfortable to hug.

Bai Yao, though, would rather not suffer a heat stroke as a snow leopard. He covers Mu Mu’er’s eyes with his hand, and tells him, “sleep. When you’re awake, the fluffy cat will be here.”

That makes Mu Mu’er go to sleep faster than sleeping pills. He lies there motionlessly with hands placed neatly across his chest, as if the posture is going to help him fall asleep faster.

It almost elicits a laugh from Bai Yao, who has to bite his lips to stop laughing.

This is quite fun. He observes Mu Mu’er’s pretend sleep for a while, and, satisfied he isn’t going to open his eyes anymore, goes to sleep himself.

The next morning, to make good on his promise, he turns into his snow leopard form before Mu Mu’er wakes up. He lies by the side of the bed while waiting for Mu Mu’er to wake up.

He’s in a playful mood too, and starts poking Mu Mu’er’s face with his paws, then tries using his paw to push the unruly hair back down, and after a dozen minutes or so, Mu Mu’er is pestered awake. While still sleepy, the sight of the big snow leopard next to him excites him to the point of speechlessness. He only manages to yell out “big floof!” after quite some time.

Bai Yao leans forward so that Mu Mu’er can pet him his head. He makes a purring sound while narrowing his eyes.

Mu Mu’er clearly likes the snow leopard Bai Yao. It might be difficult to say whether he likes the human Bai Yao or snow leopard Bai Yao more, however.

So, when the Sun has moved past its upper culmination, Bai Yao goes into the closet to turn back. He pokes Mu Mu’er on the nose, and, seeing his seeming disappointment, he teases him with a question, “Mu’er, do you like Yaoyao or the big floof more?”

Bai Yao is quite confident he’d get a positive answer in no time. Unfortunately for him, there isn’t an answer. Mu Mu’er is standing there, deep in thought.

He’s thinking?

He needs to think to answer the question?!

A long time passes. Mu Mu’er finally answers, meekly, with his eyes darting everywhere, “… I like both.”

Bai Yao “…?”

This is wholly unexpected. It’s definitely different from Bai Yao’s model answer for sure.

He can’t help but feel slightly salty inside.