The next day, Bai Yao makes a lot of seafood paella. They had quite a few peaches from grandpa Xü’s garden last time, so he was planning to give them something in return.
He still has a lot left after giving his neighbours, though, so he pours some into a plastic container for Jing Xiaoqing.
Though there was no one there after ringing the doorbell a third time. Feeling slightly worried, Bai Yao called her, and finally, the door opens.
Jing Xiaoqing was packing stuff upstairs and so didn’t hear the doorbell, only her phone ring. She has already made appointments with a hospital now that her due date is imminent, and has arranged for temporary lodgings nearby.
“I was going to keep it secret and surprise you with a baby,” Jing Xiaoqing receives the box of paella with glee and stands aside to let the man in.
She says it’s a surprise, but Bai Yao knows better.
“You’re planning to go it alone?” Bai Yao is really concerned for her, “how are you going to carry all your stuff?”
He can see all the stuff she’s packed, bag after bag. Even a healthy adult would have trouble carrying so much, never mind the fact that she’s pregnant right now.
“I’ve booked a cabbie. He’ll help carry my luggages about.”
Bai Yao remains speechless.
He received quite a lot of help from her when he just moved to Qiaohai. It’s no exaggeration to say his restaurant might have opened a year later than it had if Jing Xiaoqing wasn’t there to help.
So after deliberation, he still tells her, smiling, “I’ll go with you. I can help out.”
After coming from Jing Xiaoqing’s store, Bai Yao has also decided on letting Mu Mu’er stay. If he did take him along, he might not be able to care for him well in all the chaos. It’s also definitely much safer at home than a crowded hospital.
And of course, he can’t simply leave him at home. He might know how to use a knife to prepare simple ingredients now, but it’s absolute madness to entrust him with sharp cutlery and open-flame stoves alone.
The only neighbour close enough to the restaurant he can trust is the elderly couple. Normally, Bai Yao would never think to trouble them, especially the two people he should be helping care for, too.
So before stepping back into his home, he makes a detour to their home. The grandpa is out, but auntie Zhang is there. As he explains himself, he hasn’t even finished when auntie Zhang gladly agrees. She promises to take good care of Mu Mu’er while he’s off helping another townsfolk.
There should be no problem as he’ll be away for less than two days, and auntie Zhang will be there too.
While slightly relieved, he is now troubled wondering how to explain this to Mu Mu’er. Before he can come up with something, he can already see him sitting on the benches meant for waiting customers outside the entrance, with the sea otter plushie Mu Yi gave to him in hand. When he spots Bai Yao, his dull expression immediately brightens up like the tails of fireflies.
He hops over to open the gate for Bai Yao and drag him inside, while talking about everything he’s been doing.
Bai Yao listens with a smile patiently, before taking a deep breath to discuss with him, “Yaoyao is going to be away for a few days to help jiejie. Mu’er, will you be ok living by yourself for two nights or so?”
Mu Mu’er does not appear too terribly distraught, which is slightly better than Bai Yao expected. He is probably able to understand that Bai Yao has to do this important thing, but of course, his mood is still clearly less jovial than before.
From Mu’er’s expression, Bai Yao knows exactly what he’s thinking about. He pinches the cheeks affectionately, telling him, “don’t worry. I’ll be home before you know it.”
Mu Mu’er shakes his head a little, and asks, “why does Yaoyao need to go…”
Bai Yao explains, “Mu’er, do you remember jiejie?”
“Xiaoqing-jiejie.”
“Yes. Her baby is going to be born into this world soon. Yaoyao wants to help her go to the city to prepare.”
Mu Mu’er’s head lowers a little in thought, and then he asks, “jiejie does not have a Yaoyao?”
Bai Yao has to parse the sentence a few times to get it, and caresses the boy’s head, saying, “she does not. Mu’er, will you let Xiaoqing-jiejie borrow Yaoyao for a few days?”
Mu Mu’er seems to be conflicted. He turns to look at the trees in the garden, and doesn’t answer for a long time.
Bai Yao waits without a word, but holds the boy’s hand dearly in his palms.
After two minutes, Mu Mu’er finally nods affirmatively.
“Yaoyao has to tell jiejie, to return Yaoyao to Mu’er soon,” his voice is trailing off a little, “if someone takes Mu’er’s Yaoyao, then Mu’er will not have Yaoyao anymore…”
“Mu’er does not want Yaoyao to be taken away.”
Bai Yao can’t help but share the sorrow in his tone. He lifts the boy’s chin up to meet him in the eyes, and tells him, “no matter who comes to knock, don’t open the door, ok? Make sure to go ask auntie Zhang if you need anything. She’ll help. Her house is the one right opposite ours.”
Bai Yao has given the couple a set of keys for his restaurant as backup a long time ago, too. And of course, he himself will be able to open the door without knocking. This means only strangers will come knocking.
To be fair, it is exceedingly unlikely for any accident to happen now that the tourist season is over, but that’s no reason to be careless. Bai Yao is worried, but he also can’t simply watch Jing Xiaoqing having to deal with everything herself. He’s her friend. He must help.
Mu Mu’er suddenly realises something, though, and furrows his brows to ask, a little scared, “but then, at night, Mu’er will not have Yaoyao’s hand to hold.”
Hearing that, Bai Yao leans into Mu Mu’er, and whisper something into his ears, before standing back. The boy’s ears blush.
Mu Mu’er falls into thought, before nodding firmly again, and promises, “Mu’er will wait for Yaoyao to come back. Mu’er is a good boy.”
“Yaoyao, come back soon…”
The next day, Bai Yao makes a lot of seafood paella. They had quite a few peaches from grandpa Xü’s garden last time, so he was planning to give them something in return.
He still has a lot left after giving his neighbours, though, so he pours some into a plastic container for Jing Xiaoqing.
Though there was no one there after ringing the doorbell a third time. Feeling slightly worried, Bai Yao called her, and finally, the door opens.
Jing Xiaoqing was packing stuff upstairs and so didn’t hear the doorbell, only her phone ring. She has already made appointments with a hospital now that her due date is imminent, and has arranged for temporary lodgings nearby.
“I was going to keep it secret and surprise you with a baby,” Jing Xiaoqing receives the box of paella with glee and stands aside to let the man in.
She says it’s a surprise, but Bai Yao knows better.
“You’re planning to go it alone?” Bai Yao is really concerned for her, “how are you going to carry all your stuff?”
He can see all the stuff she’s packed, bag after bag. Even a healthy adult would have trouble carrying so much, never mind the fact that she’s pregnant right now.
“I’ve booked a cabbie. He’ll help carry my luggages about.”
Bai Yao remains speechless.
He received quite a lot of help from her when he just moved to Qiaohai. It’s no exaggeration to say his restaurant might have opened a year later than it had if Jing Xiaoqing wasn’t there to help.
So after deliberation, he still tells her, smiling, “I’ll go with you. I can help out.”
After coming from Jing Xiaoqing’s store, Bai Yao has also decided on letting Mu Mu’er stay. If he did take him along, he might not be able to care for him well in all the chaos. It’s also definitely much safer at home than a crowded hospital.
And of course, he can’t simply leave him at home. He might know how to use a knife to prepare simple ingredients now, but it’s absolute madness to entrust him with sharp cutlery and open-flame stoves alone.
The only neighbour close enough to the restaurant he can trust is the elderly couple. Normally, Bai Yao would never think to trouble them, especially the two people he should be helping care for, too.
So before stepping back into his home, he makes a detour to their home. The grandpa is out, but auntie Zhang is there. As he explains himself, he hasn’t even finished when auntie Zhang gladly agrees. She promises to take good care of Mu Mu’er while he’s off helping another townsfolk.
There should be no problem as he’ll be away for less than two days, and auntie Zhang will be there too.
While slightly relieved, he is now troubled wondering how to explain this to Mu Mu’er. Before he can come up with something, he can already see him sitting on the benches meant for waiting customers outside the entrance, with the sea otter plushie Mu Yi gave to him in hand. When he spots Bai Yao, his dull expression immediately brightens up like the tails of fireflies.
He hops over to open the gate for Bai Yao and drag him inside, while talking about everything he’s been doing.
Bai Yao listens with a smile patiently, before taking a deep breath to discuss with him, “Yaoyao is going to be away for a few days to help jiejie. Mu’er, will you be ok living by yourself for two nights or so?”
Mu Mu’er does not appear too terribly distraught, which is slightly better than Bai Yao expected. He is probably able to understand that Bai Yao has to do this important thing, but of course, his mood is still clearly less jovial than before.
From Mu’er’s expression, Bai Yao knows exactly what he’s thinking about. He pinches the cheeks affectionately, telling him, “don’t worry. I’ll be home before you know it.”
Mu Mu’er shakes his head a little, and asks, “why does Yaoyao need to go…”
Bai Yao explains, “Mu’er, do you remember jiejie?”
“Xiaoqing-jiejie.”
“Yes. Her baby is going to be born into this world soon. Yaoyao wants to help her go to the city to prepare.”
Mu Mu’er’s head lowers a little in thought, and then he asks, “jiejie does not have a Yaoyao?”
Bai Yao has to parse the sentence a few times to get it, and caresses the boy’s head, saying, “she does not. Mu’er, will you let Xiaoqing-jiejie borrow Yaoyao for a few days?”
Mu Mu’er seems to be conflicted. He turns to look at the trees in the garden, and doesn’t answer for a long time.
Bai Yao waits without a word, but holds the boy’s hand dearly in his palms.
After two minutes, Mu Mu’er finally nods affirmatively.
“Yaoyao has to tell jiejie, to return Yaoyao to Mu’er soon,” his voice is trailing off a little, “if someone takes Mu’er’s Yaoyao, then Mu’er will not have Yaoyao anymore…”
“Mu’er does not want Yaoyao to be taken away.”
Bai Yao can’t help but share the sorrow in his tone. He lifts the boy’s chin up to meet him in the eyes, and tells him, “no matter who comes to knock, don’t open the door, ok? Make sure to go ask auntie Zhang if you need anything. She’ll help. Her house is the one right opposite ours.”
Bai Yao has given the couple a set of keys for his restaurant as backup a long time ago, too. And of course, he himself will be able to open the door without knocking. This means only strangers will come knocking.
To be fair, it is exceedingly unlikely for any accident to happen now that the tourist season is over, but that’s no reason to be careless. Bai Yao is worried, but he also can’t simply watch Jing Xiaoqing having to deal with everything herself. He’s her friend. He must help.
Mu Mu’er suddenly realises something, though, and furrows his brows to ask, a little scared, “but then, at night, Mu’er will not have Yaoyao’s hand to hold.”
Hearing that, Bai Yao leans into Mu Mu’er, and whisper something into his ears, before standing back. The boy’s ears blush.
Mu Mu’er falls into thought, before nodding firmly again, and promises, “Mu’er will wait for Yaoyao to come back. Mu’er is a good boy.”
“Yaoyao, come back soon…”
