Let Me Ruffle Your Fur a Little

Chapter 63.1

Where Are Mu'er's Shells?

Translated by boilpoil
Edited by boilpoil

When Mu Mu’er is done eating, Bai Yao goes to wash the dishes in the kitchen while taking the ingredients that have to be thawed by evening outside.

After he finished washing a dish, Mu Mu’er rushes in from the door, calling Bai Yao and tugging his clothes. He’s distressed.

Bai Yao’s hand is too full of soap and bubbles to calm the boy down, so he asks, “what’s wrong? Tell me.”

Mu Mu’er is a little out of breath having run in from the back garden, “where is big pond? Mu’er’s big pond.”

Bai Yao hasn’t finished washing, so he replies, “it’s still here. I packed it up for Mu’er. Yaoyao will give it to Mu’er after Yaoyao finishes the dishes.”

Mu Mu’er, relieved, says ‘ok,’ but his gaze doesn’t leave Bai Yao. He leans forward to look over his shoulder at the amount of dishes left, like he’s trying to speed the process up by staring at it.

“Mu’er, if you stick to me like this, Yaoyao won’t be able to wash it,” Bai Yao says, and Mu Mu’er takes a step back to give him the space he needs.

Bai Yao feels like the gaze is going to bore a hole through him at this pace. He knows the boy is quite impatient, so he puts the dishes down first, washes his hands, and then dries it. He pats his head as he passes by, “a little sea otter is more likeable when he is patient, got it?”

Mu Mu’er is in too much of a hurry to care about likeability. His big pond is all he has on his mind, and he follows closely after Bai Yao towards the garden, almost tripping Bai Yao in the process.

There, Bai Yao pulls the inflatable pool back out. He was contemplating throwing it away yesterday, but didn’t have the heart to, and so left it folded in the corner. It’s lucky it’s still there, as he wouldn’t want even more bizarre inflatable pools like ‘Frozen’ or something there.

The grass still clearly shows where the pool was placed before, flattened. Bai Yao fills the pool with air and puts it back exactly where it is.

Mu Mu’er, though, is no longer looking at the pool, but on the ground near where the pool was placed. His eyes are widened.

The hose is packed away in the shed, and Bai Yao will need to go retrieve it to fill the pool up. Unsure if Mu’er intends to swim right now, he asks, “Mu’er, do you want to swim?”

Mu Mu’er slowly shakes his head and sits down on the ground next to the pool quietly.

Bai Yao assumes Mu Mu’er wants to play by the side of the pool, so he caresses his head and is about to head back to wash the dishes; however, he spots Mu Mu’er’s devastated expression and reddened eyes, and stops. His chest tightened, he quickly crouches down and turns Mu Mu’er towards himself, “what’s wrong? What happened?”

“Mu’er’s shell, is not here,” Mu Mu’er whimpers, “Mu’er hid it, long time ago. It’s not here.”

Mu Mu’er has a lot of seashells, practically lining his restaurant every few steps. Bai Yao thinks for a bit before he finally recalls the scallop shell Mu Mu’er hid under the pool, that he almost threw away yesterday. The shell of the very first scallops he gave the little sea otter.

He didn’t throw it away, thank god. He thought Mu Mu’er doesn’t remember it anymore, but it turns out that’s not remotely the case.

And the pool was far less important to him than the seashell hidden under the pool.

Bai Yao quickly walks back to the living room cabinet to get Mu Mu’er’s shell for him. When he comes back outside, it appears Mu Mu’er didn’t notice he has left. He’s still sitting there quietly mourning to himself.

He should have known. He already almost threw the seashell away once, when Mu Mu’er was bathing. He never ever let it go from his paws, and hiding it was the first thing he did after transforming.

He must be distraught that it’s gone.

Bai Yao touches him on the back, and when Mu Mu’er look up at him, he shows the boy the shell in his palm like a magic trick, “it’s here, my boy. It’s right here.”

Mu Mu’er immediately recognises the shell as the one he hid under the pool over a month ago, from the colours and patterns he is so familiar with. He often takes it out to admire when Bai Yao is not around. He knows this seashell well enough he can recognise it just by touching, blindfolded.

“Shell…” Mu Mu’er carefully takes his shell back while looking at Bai Yao, who does not stop him. Then he holds it in his hand dearly, and seeing it no more damaged than when he left it, he holds it close to his heart.

“Still here,” his mood turns from sadness to happiness in two seconds flat. He’s showing the simple, beaming smile again.

Bai Yao can’t help but touch him on the cheeks, while teasing him, “Mu’er, did you forget to take your shell with you yesterday?”

“Mu’er remembers,” Mu Mu’er holds his seashell in hand while confidently stating, “Mu’er never forgets where things are.”

Bai Yao then asks offhandedly, “then why didn’t you take it?”

Mu’er answers without delay this time, looking up at Bai Yao with eyes bright like the moon in the starry skies.

“Because Mu’er’s home is here. Mu’er will be here, back by Yaoyao’s side.”

With the kitchen cleaned, Bai Yao is thinking about buying a phone for Mu Mu’er. It’d help him chat with Mu Yi more convenient, and they can also send each other voice messages or even selfie videos.

Since he’s planning for it to be a short trip, he tells Mu Mu’er to wait for him at home, swearing and promising that he’ll come back very soon. He finally convinced Mu Mu’er, who sees him off from the front entrance.

Grandpa Xü is heading towards the beach with auntie Zhang for a walk. Bai Yao greets the two of them.

“Xiao-Yao, heading out?” His eyes not as good as they used to be, grandpa Xü smiles when Bai Yao is close enough that he can see, “you didn’t bring the little bunny with you?”

Grandpa Xü has ended up calling Mu Mu’er that after some time. It’s already become an affectionate nickname.

Bai Yao usually brings Mu Mu’er with him wherever he’s going; they’ve seen Mu Mu’er hopping like a bunny about Bai Yao’s side, holding his hand wherever they go.

“I have to do some shopping, so I had him stay at home,” Bai Yao replies with a smile.

Grandpa Xü needs to walk with a cane, so Bai Yao takes some time out to help him down to the beach with auntie Zhang, helping him descend the stairs slowly.

On the soft sands that are less difficult to walk, Bai Yao is idly chatting with the old couple.

“Xiao-Yao, auntie Zhang’s peach trees are already ripe now. If you’re free later today, come and pick some up for the little bunny,” grandpa Xü says.

“Right! I almost forgot, too,” auntie Zhang concurs, “they’re really sweet this year. When I bought the trees, the sales guy said it’d be a year before it fruits again, but there’s a whole tree of them now. We can’t eat that many at all, so make sure you get some for Mu’er at home.”

Bai Yao is happy to oblige, “thank you! Mu’er will like it, I’m sure.”

Grandpa Xü enjoys chatting with Bai Yao, often asking him how the restaurant is doing or any troubles he might be having lately. The couple are also interested in any of his latest recipes. Bai Yao only tells them good news and never brings up anything serious.