CH 47.1

To Be a Hamster

Translated by boilpoil

Edited by boilpoil

It takes around two hours by train to reach the nearest city from Qiaohai, which is at least more convenient than taking the plane.

When Bai Yao has made the decision to go, he messaged Qi Ya, who responds enthusiastically. He books the train tickets and two weeks’ hotel for Bai Yao, who immediately threatens to bail at the time, until Qi Ya shortened the hotel stay to four days.

Mu Mu’er has never been away from Qiaohai in his memories, nor has he used a suitcase. So he doesn’t understand what Bai Yao means to ‘pack up a little.’

He tilts his head, and then goes to ‘pack up’ the loose books by putting them back on the bookshelves, and then putting the citrus lemon body wash on the side of the bathtub back on its rack.

After that, he goes back next to Bai Yao for praise. Bai Yao pats him on the head, and tells him he’s done a good job with a big smile.

Bai Yao is thinking of buying new clothes for Mu Mu’er in the city, so he doesn’t pack a lot. He prioritises loose, comfortable clothing.

When it’s done, it’s already late at night. Bai Yao tells Mu Mu’er to go brush his teeth and get ready to sleep.

When Bai Yao has finished showering, though, he sees Mu Mu’er running all over the house for his seashells, putting each of them neatly into the suitcase. Each piece of clothing already inside has a little shell on there, and there is even a pile on the ground, stacked high.

Bai Yao doesn’t even know how to react to this… what, hamster moving home, is it?

So he leans on the bathroom door to observe for a while, only to realise Mu Mu’er has practically made his home into a hidden object game. It’s ridiculous. There are two- no, three shells between the bed and the wall, which Mu Mu’er expends a lot of effort just to extract.

When did he put all these in…

Mu Mu’er, meanwhile, is quite busy putting all his treasures in the suitcase, with a face like he’s sorting through his possessions for a will.

He remembers exactly where he has put seashells inside the house. There are two under the bed, one big one in the space between the lampshade and lamp, then he tilts his head looking at the chandelier on the ceiling. He tries to collect it on tiptoe.

However, he can’t reach it. So Mu Mu’er crouches a little, before making a jump and then slaps his hand on the chandelier. Three… uh, four round seashells rain noisily down. Mu Mu’er picks them all up to put them in the suitcase.

When he does so, Mu Mu’er seems to recall something, and climbs a bit further onto the bed. He sits next to the pillow, and puts his hand inside the pillowcase. He retrieves a complete abalone shell from within.

‘Holy, so it was the little boy’s seashell that I felt when sleeping a few days ago…’ Thinks Bai Yao.

Here, Bai Yao can’t help but audibly laugh. Mu Mu’er turns around, and panics, then puts the abalone shell back in the pillow and pats on it.

Bai Yao walks towards the wardrobe in the bedroom and asks, “only little hamsters would stockpile for winter. Mu’er, are you a sea otter or a hamster?”

He only has a towel about his nether regions, and his pecs still have droplets of water sliding down through the valleys between his muscles.

Mu Mu’er’s gaze is wholly fixed on the unclothed upper body, then he puts his hands on his eyes to stop himself looking, only to peek through his fingers. He didn’t hear the question at all.

Bai Yao takes pyjamas out, changes, and returns, to find a blanked out Mu Mu’er still sitting in place.

Hilarious. Bai Yao walks over to ruffle the boy’s hair, then starts the monumental task of retrieving seashells from the suitcase.

Before he can tell Mu Mu’er he doesn’t need to bring those, the boy says, a little defensively, “mine.”

Mu Mu’er has misunderstood Bai Yao, and is working out if he can give up or cannot give up his beloved seashells to Bai Yao. He has a pitiful frown.

Bai Yao immediately knows how to respond, “yes, they are Mu’er’s, but they are also Mu’er’s when they stay here. There are too many shells, and they will not fit in the suitcase. We cannot bring tasty food home if all the shells are in the suitcase.”

“Will not fit…” Mu Mu’er repeats with a whisper, thinks for a while, before understanding what Bai Yao meant.

“Yes. Mu’er has so many shells. If it is too full, Yaoyao cannot lift,” Bai Yao makes an impression of grandpa Zhang trying to bend over, “ow, ow, this is too heavy.”

Mu Mu’er’s frown has turned into a smile now.

Finally, after some more convincing, Bai Yao has managed to get Mu Mu’er to take his seashells back out. Then onto the bed to sleep with another round of persuasion.

He lies down next to Mu Mu’er, and gives him his hand as usual.

Mu Mu’er falls asleep soon enough, but Bai Yao finds himself unable to fall asleep tonight. He’s worrying if Mu Mu’er can stay calm in crowds, worrying if he has made the decision too lightly. What if Mu Mu’er is homesick or scared? Will he be able to book a ticket to return immediately?

Why not just stay in the town? There are also people here.

He couldn’t sleep well at all.

However, when the Sun rises, and Mu Mu’er gets up, his very first words are “Mu’er is going on a trip with Yaoyao!”

Bai Yao’s worries fade into nothing.

He realises, the boy is braver than he is.