Let Me Ruffle Your Fur a Little

Chapter 71.1

Want to Embrace and Kiss

Translated by boilpoil
Edited by boilpoil

Bai Yao listens without interrupting, not wanting to miss any single word Mu Mu’er speaks.

Even though he is speaking detailedly and slowly, Bai Yao still feels he can listen to more, that it would be the most serene thing to do if he can listen to it his entire life.

The sands close to the shoreline is soft; the waters are slightly cold, comfortable when their feet are awash. Qiaohai’s waters are clear, with a chilly, icy blue colour right now. They can see the sands underneath the water.

Mu Mu’er pokes a hole in the sand with his toes, watching the seawater fill it up; soon, he notices a little seashell in the distance. The pace he speaks decreases yet again.

They continue walking along slowly; there is a rock some distance away from the shore ahead of them. Bai Yao doesn’t give it much thought; he does not notice the angle between the rock and the sands of the beaches forms a crevice just wide enough for a little sea otter.

Mu Mu’er’s stories come to pause. He has also stopped in place, holding Bia Yao’s hand.

Bai Yao doesn’t ask. The boy will speak if he is willing. He stands there alongside him, giving him reassuring wiggles with his thumb.

“When it rained, Mu’er hid here. This is safe,” Mu Mu’er points to the rock to show Bai Yao, then looks at the waves afar, “they sleep on the seas, but will not hold hands with Mu’er. They bit Mu’er, so Mu’er hid.”

Bai Yao looks closely at the boy. He cannot fathom how anyone can ever bring themselves to bully the poor thing.

Actually, that’s not the question he should ask. He should ask why he didn’t meet the boy until it was so, so late.

If he met him earlier, whether Mu Mu’er was willing to turn back into human, or even, if Mu’er wanted, Bai Yao could always stay by his side in his snow leopard form, hanging out on the beach all day. See which sea otter might dare threaten his little sea otter again.

Bai Yao speaks gently, so as not to spook, “Mu’er, you do not like rain?”

Mu’er, though, surprisingly, shakes his head, and smiles.

“No. Rain is the sad tears of the seas,” he says, with innocent eyes, “Mu’er has to comfort it, but it does not hear. It cries a lot.”
“Maybe, it gets tired.”

Bai Yao does not reply, but falls into thought looking at Mu Mu’er, who’s looking at the seas himself. He wants to keep the image of Mu Mu’er etched into his mind, so that even if he does have to leave one day, he can still be the little lamp in his chest, giving him light in his home.

Some time later, Mu Mu’er makes a little exclamation and lets go of Bai Yao to run towards the rock. He digs into the sand for a while, and then turns to show Bai Yao.

Yup, just what he was expecting. A pile of little unremarkable trinkets in the hole Mu Mu’er dug.

“These are Mu’er’s! They are still here!” Mu Mu’er lays them out on the sand in order. Abalone shells, pretty stones… He counts them excitedly, before finally putting them each back into the little hole with wistful eyes.

“They must hide well. For later,” Mu Mu’er pats the little lump of sand firm, before getting up and adding, “for when Mu’er is poor. Mu’er is not poor right now, because Yaoyao is rich.”
“If Yaoyao becomes poor, Mu’er can buy scallops for Yaoyao.”

The boy is blabbering along whatever comes into his mind.

Bai Yao’s heart has mellowed out into a pool of water. He has really fallen for this boy who treats junk as treasure. He holds the boy’s hand, and draws him closer, telling him, “ok, now, Mu’er, wave goodbye to the rock.”

Mu Mu’er doesn’t know why he should, but he obligingly waves as Bai Yao asked.

The oceans are a magical place, and has an attraction that makes one unwilling to leave. They continue along the coastline, until Mu Mu’er becomes visibly tired. It’s almost been an hour.

The sky has an orange tint to it. The clouds are a kaleidoscope of multiple colours, just like a palette.

Bai Yao used to only watch the sun set by himself. Not anymore.

A sunset with two people always feels more impactfully beautiful than when viewed alone.

Bai Yao turns, holding the boy’s hand, as they walk back, “let’s go home. Time for dinner.”

Mu Mu’er nods, “home! Home is good.”

He has a new home now. No longer does he have to cower and keep warm alone underneath the cold, apathetic stone, and watch the other sea otters huddle together in a warm, homely mass.

Sea otters have sharp teeth, which Mu Mu’er learned very vividly to his pain. He does not dare bite back, though, so his own sharp teeth has never seen much use.

Now, he no longer has to worry about drifting away in the currents to nowhere. He has someone who is happy to hold hands with him, on the same bed at night.

All thanks to Bai Yao, who is willing to share his restaurant with Mu Mu’er, give him tasty food, and hold hands with him.

Mu Mu’er’s gratitude for Bai Yao is so full it can spill over. He also wants to tell him about how much he likes him. He really, really wants to tell him a heartfelt ‘thank you,’ and let him know how happy he is he lets them live together.