Let Me Ruffle Your Fur a Little

20

By springtime, the tomato seeds auntie Zhang gave Mu Mu’er are ready to be planted. Bai Yao bought a few clay pots, teaching him to first make them sprout here before moving them over into the back garden.

He shows Mu Mu’er by example – how much distance he should maintain between each seed, how deep to plant them, etc. Mu Mu’er learns surprisingly quickly, and has moved a stool outside to do this all afternoon.

Auntie Zhang gave them a whole bag of tomato seeds, which means that even six clay pots didn’t fit them all.

It’s already time for Bai Yao to open the restaurant, but the little guy is still sitting next to the entrance with small bags of dirt and two watering cans.

Bai Yao heads out to check on him quietly. From above the little guy’s shoulders, he watches him dig a small hole, count the number of seeds, and put them inside one by one.

He’s too preoccupied to notice Bai Yao; Bai Yao was thinking he’d notice sooner or later, but for a whole five minutes, Mu Mu’er doesn’t even so much as raise his head to look. He’s keeping count still.

“Six in this pot~”
“Five now in this pot…”
“Every pot has six… Mu’er should dig six~”

Then Mu Mu’er adds another seed into this clay pot.

He’s not even going to be done by night at this point. Bai Yao quickly springs to action, and carries his darling off.

Mu Mu’er yelps at the sudden loss of gravity, and then complains after realising it’s Bai Yao, “what is Yaoyao doing?! Mu’er isn’t finished planting!”

“You’ve been at it all afternoon. Aren’t you tired yet?” Bai Yao puts the boy on his shoulder like a sack, “Mu’er would have ended up becoming planted in the pot yourself.”

Mu Mu’er doesn’t get the joke, though.

“No, please, Mu’er does not want to be planted in the dirt…” he pleads.

Bai Yao feels like teasing, “why not? Mu’er can be friends with the tomato seeds.”

“Because, because Mu’er will only get water in the clay pot. Mu’er cannot have meals anymore. Mu’er is sad,” Mu Mu’er explains, “needs rice and meal.”

Well, at least Mu Mu’er has remembered well that he ought to water each seed after planting them into the dirt.

And the reason he does not want to be planted? Because he won’t be able to eat his tasty food anymore.

Bai Yao chuckles.

What a brilliantly logical answer.

21

The couple has their wedding anniversary on the thirteenth of November.

Mu Mu’er doesn’t have a sense of the significance of the day, though, because it’s really just like any other day to him.

Bai Yao is of a mind to disagree, however. He wants their very first anniversary to be a bit more than just another day. It will be a special day.

A trip, that’s for certain. He’s not sure where yet, though. All the places he’s run through in his mind aren’t much to his satisfaction.

It was Mu Mu’er’s suggestion that settled it in the end – he wants to go see the stars again at the island.

Bai Yao agrees almost immediately.

This time, they simply camp at the campgrounds of the foothills instead of going for the peak.

Without spending the time to climb, it’s quite early when they settle down. When Bai Yao is pitching the tent, Mu Mu’er comes over asking if he can go for a swim in the sea.

He’s a little worried that Mu Mu’er would be lonely swimming by himself, never mind the rather harsh autumn waves. Still, he does not want to douse the enthusiasm, and tells him, “wait for Yaoyao. I’ll go with you.”

Mu Mu’er nods, but his patience runs out quickly when food and swimming is on the line; it’s only been five minute and he’s already restless.

He tugs Bai Yao’s clothes, “can Mu’er go first?”

Bai Yao is hammering nails right now, so he doesn’t look away, “Mu’er cannot. What if you get washed out to sea?”

Mu Mu’er tries to reason with him, “that is impossible! Mu’er can swim right back! Also, cats are afraid of water, so Mu’er is definitely better at swimming than Yaoyao.”

You can’t say he hasn’t got a point there. With a slight chuckle, Bai Yao relents and looks over at the ocean. He points out a prominent rock, “you can only swim as far as that rock, ok?”

“Ok!”

And the little boy is about to dash off. Bai Yao pulls him back by the hand first, “come back in half an hour. That’s a promise. Can you do it?”

“Ok!!!”

Then he runs off, without Bai Yao being able to pull him in for a kiss first.

It’s quite laborious to pitch a tent alone. When Bai Yao is all done, he realises over an hour has passed on his watch. Mu Mu’er is still not back.

Trying to keep his composure, he hurries to the edges of the coast to look. The waves are calmer than he thought, and he spots Mu Mu’er immediately. He’s currently floating about with the currents, appearing quite happy.

As expected of an aquatic creature, Mu’er is agile like a little fish.

Not that it relieves Bai Yao’s anger any. That half an hour is long gone, and Mu’er definitely did not listen when he warned him to stay within the reach of that rock. He’s far, far out already.

Angry, he shouts, “Mu’er!”

The wind has picked up, and the distance is far enough that Mu’er doesn’t hear it.

Bai Yao has to yell louder and louder for three times total, for the little guy to look over at the coast, and see his Yaoyao there. He starts swimming back.

Mu Mu’er is still slow, though, looking quite unwilling. It’s like he’s trying to get Bai Yao to forget in time, and then he could keep swimming. Yet, as soon as he has reached the shoreline, a large build-up of waves come crashing in. It’s headed right for Mu Mu’er and him.

“Careful!” Bai Yao quickly pulls the little guy in, holding him with all his strength.

The blue waters and white foams rush roaring onto the beach. Bai Yao is all wet, barely avoiding tumbling over by keeping his centre low and steady with Mu Mu’er right in his lap. He’s splashed all wet, though.

If Mu Mu’er didn’t come back to shore on time… If he didn’t manage to get hold of him…

Bai Yao does not even dare imagine what would happen.