Chapter 29: 25.2

Bai Yao raises his brow, “you don’t like the sea otters?”

“No, I don’t like them,” Mu Mu’er immediately nods, “they are scary.”

Then he emphasises, just in case he wasn’t clear enough, “really, really scary.”

Bai Yao then asks, “but isn’t Mu’er a sea otter yourself?”

“No!” Mu Mu’er immediately denies the claim, yelling out with a fist, “it’s different.”

Mu Mu’er is quite clearly downcast, by literally looking down at the pebble on the ground instead of Bai Yao, moving it around with the tip of his shoe.

He mumbles, or perhaps, is trying to cheer himself up, “Mu’er is different.”

Bai Yao thoughtlessly adds, while juggling with his keys, “why? Doesn’t Mu’er the sea otter look just like those sea otters?”

Mu Mu’er doesn’t know how to explain. He isn’t good at talking at all, or arguing, so he can only sulk. His eyes grow a little foggy, and his nose lets out a little sniffle.

Bai Yao only notices when Mu Mu’er isn’t following him after a few steps. He turns around, only to see Mu’er standing behind alone and disheartened. If his ears are on his head, they would be drooping like those of puppies.

The reddened eyes and the head hanging low finally tells Bai Yao that he overdid it, even though he isn’t sure what was the trigger. He wants to ask, but it also doesn’t seem like a good time.

While he reflects on what he said, Mu Mu’er starts walking forward, past Bai Yao without waiting, heading south along the cobblestone road.

All Bai Yao can do is walk behind him with his hands in his pockets, pondering how he can cheer him up.

Mu Mu’er is pretty obviously sad the whole way through, not speaking and taking small steps. Bai Yao is following behind, so he is walking pretty slowly as well.

Before he has come up with anything to cheer Mu Mu’er up, they come across a small bridge just some ways before the market.

The sound of running water brightens Mu Mu’er’s eyes, who finally lifts his head up to see the stream flowing under the bridge. He begins running for the bridge.

His mood sure improved quickly.

Mu Mu’er is looking at the water, leaning on the fence at the side of the bridge. Fishes are swimming slowly alongside the current.

Bai Yao assumes he wants to swim, but before he can say anything, he sees Mu Mu’er point to the koi in the water and ask quietly, “can I eat it?”

“…”

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Great. Maybe if it didn’t hurt to look at the sun, he’d be drooling over the gigantic salted yolk in the sky.

His voice is still a little muffled and nasal from before. Maybe he did cry a tear or two while walking in front earlier. Bai Yao starts seriously entertaining the idea of jumping into the water to catch a koi for him for a moment.

After crossing the bridge, they end up in the market less than ten minutes’ walk away. People are also here to do their early shopping, and it’s rather lively as far as the eye can see.

This area of the town is colourful and vibrant, with little houses that use generally bright paint. A local feature are the pots of snow-in-summers the locals place next to intersections. Maybe the ocean breeze suits the flora, as the small gathering of clean, white flowers are all in full blossom, adding to the cleanliness in the surroundings.

Before they enter the market proper, Bai Yao tugs Mu Mu’er’s arm, stopping him.

Mu Mu’er looks around, confused, wondering why they’re not entering the lively market in front immediately.

Bai Yao’s other hand is still in his pocket as he lowers his head to ask gently, “Mu’er, are you still angry?”

Then he corrects the position of the bib strap a little that it wouldn’t slip down, “Yaoyao said something bad, and wants to apologise to Mu’er. Will Mu’er accept it?”

Mu Mu’er takes some time to process what Bai Yao said – he doesn’t remember his grudges, so the little bit of falling out has already fell out of his mind.

He still remembers what his older brother told him. If he remembers every unhappy thing in his heart, then his heart will be filled up, and he won’t be able to put any happy things inside anymore.

Let the memory pass, and then eat and live to the fullest. Think about all the food they can eat, and all the toys they can play with.

From the restaurant to the market was a long road, with a bridge, and so many koi swimming underneath. Mu’er’s heart had so much more things to fill. He forgot the unhappy thing a long time ago.

So he nods, and heartily wonders what kind of food there are in this market. He thinks he wants some scallops.

Bai Yao doesn’t know what the boy is thinking, of course. In fact, he isn’t sure if the boy still feels unhappy, but is merely keeping it to himself – which he thinks is definitely unhealthy. It is better if Mu Mu’er would yell and throw tantrums at him, even.

He may not understand the reason that Mu Mu’er was saddened yet, but right now, he is the only one who can cheer him up.

“Mu’er, are you not angry anymore?”

Mu Mu’er shakes his head to-and-fro, to show that he really isn’t angry anymore.

Bai Yao then says earnestly, “thank you, Mu’er.”

Mu Mu’er takes after him, smiling, with a little dimple on the left, and with sincerity, replies, “mhm~ Yaoyao, you’re welcome.”

Mu Mu’er’s smile is the reassurance Bai Yao needed, and so he takes Mu’er with him into the market.

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