1
Recently, Mu Mu’er has been a huge fan of ‘Puss in Boots,’ and keeps negging Bai Yao to play the movie for him… every day. Even when he isn’t watching, he’d be wondering aloud why the cat wasn’t wearing clothes but is wearing boots. Is he also uncomfortable like him when he just learned to anthropomorphise?
Before sleeping tonight, he watches the movie again while sitting in Bai Yao’s lap. He’s still thinking about the orange cat after Bai Yao has brought him into bed.
“He’s so cute. How could he be so cute? Real cats must be even cuter,” Mu Mu’er mumbles, while waiting for Bai Yao to change and hold hands with him to sleep.
Bai Yao only smiles. Still, it must feel good for any cat to know that there is a little sea otter who finds it cute.
“Cute, so cute, cats are cute.”
Finally, he notices Bai Yao’s teasing gaze. He shrinks a little, smiling dumbly, and goes, “Mu’er’s hubby is the cutest!”
He learns soon enough that cats can be pets. He starts pestering Bai Yao to get one as a pet.
Bai Yao, though, abhors cats. Perhaps it’s because he’s a snow leopard, and is distinctly repulsed at the idea of having another cat around.
“Cats? No cats. They literally sneak up everywhere. And they’re easily scared, arching their backs and leaping from something like a dropped ashtray,” Bai Yao refuses, “no cats.”
Mu Mu’er doesn’t continue pleading, but just keeps looking up at Bai Yao with a pitiful look in his eyes, resembling the little hungry sea otter that Bai Yao first met.
“Mu’er… wants to ruffle fur,” he thinks, and tries to be persuasive, “does Yaoyao not want to ruffle fur?”
Bai Yao ruffles Mu Mu’er’s head instead, “not really. I already have you.”
Mu Mu’er is still blabbering on about a cat right up until sleep. He’s even thought of a name already – Yaoyao Jr., for it will be another fluffy Yaoyao.
Bai Yao, completely defeated, decides to try something. He transforms himself, and leans his head towards Mu Mu’er, for him to ruffle fur as much as he likes.
However, this clearly backfires when Mu Mu’er sees him and pushes him aside.
“Not this cat. Mu’er wants the cat in boots.”
2
During the National Day holidays, there have been a lot more customers than usual. That’s why, when the next free weekend rolls around, Bai Yao takes Mu Mu’er out to the city to order new replacements for his utensils and whatnot. They also go check out the supermarkets before going back to town.
While Qiaohai’s general store is quite well-stocked, it still can’t compare to the department store in the city with three floors above ground and three more floors under. Before he met Mu Mu’er, he usually just orders online, but he’s happy to bring Mu Mu’er to the city nowadays and shop in person. And also, visiting Mu Yi if they have time.
Given the crowds, though, Bai Yao has to hold Mu Mu’er’s hand quite tightly to keep him close to him where he can see.
The large supermarket has a great variety of spices. Bai Yao finds the sauces there, and grabs a random bottle of raw soy sauce off the racks to check.
He’s formed a habit of explaining himself to Mu Mu’er whatever he does, and he thus mentions, “this soy sauce would be good for soups. It’s not too dark in colour, and appears to be just salty enough.”
Mu Mu’er isn’t interested in this topic, though, and simply ‘mmhm’s his way through.
In fact, his eyes are currently glued to the big counter with all the fishes there. While Bai Yao is distracted comparing condiments, he sneaks over to look at all the oysters, scallops, tiger prawns and whatnot.
The mollusks are placed in front of the fish tanks, all of them appearing quite fresh and vibrant in colour, like sunken treasures.
The salesperson is quick to come and chat him up, “we have a discount on the Japanese scads today, they’ll taste great both fried and grilled if you want some.”
Mu Mu’er hears him and looks. Trying to be polite, he first greets him, “hello, grandpa.”
After that, he moves his attention over to the clams he was just looking at. The shells are so pretty – black, white and some dark green stripes. He’s never seen them in the oceans before.
The poor young man manning the seafood section felt like he was being insulted, but he can also see the silly boy just staring at the clams, and mumbling, “seashells…”
… Is he just a hungry brat or what?
He finds himself being reminded of Bambi of all things when he sees how bright and clean his eyes look.
He must be have been raised well, but for some apparent lack of common sense, perhaps.
So the salesperson asks, uncharacteristically patient, “would you like any?”
“Mu’er doesn’t need any,” Mu Mu’er shakes his head, “Mu’er is only watching.”
He knows that things in the outside world needs to be paid for in money. Bai Yao has money, but he does not, and he doesn’t want to trouble Bai Yao to buy these for him. They are going to buy snacks later, so even if he wanted them, he cannot say.
The salesperson nods, then heads to continue serving other customers; there’s a woman here to buy four catties of clam, but she appears unhappy with the guy’s pick. She picks through the clams and claims that the few she picked out are already rotten, throwing them back into the tank.
After she’s gone, the salesperson quickly examines the clams. They’re obviously not rotten, but simply don’t look as fresh or pretty.
He throws them into the trash without a second thought.
Mu Mu’er has been paying attention to both, and was really eyeing for that bag of little seashells that woman bought. Then he also saw the clams thrown away.
“Why throw them…” Mu Mu’er mumbles, “why throw away… the pretty things…”
The guy has been working at the supermarket for years, and it’s the first time someone has ever called the ruined seafood ‘pretty things.’ He can’t help but look him up and down.
Mu Mu’er continues mumbling, “if you don’t need it, can you give it to Mu’er…”
Finally, the guy realises he might not be the brightest in the head. Still, he’s pretty handsome and pure in appearance as it were. A lot of people would probably feel a protective instinct over him.
As if possessed, the guy retrieves those clams from the bins, washes them clean several times over, before handing them over to Mu Mu’er.
“You are giving this all to Mu’er?! Thank you grandpa! May your body be well forever!”
Mu Mu’er leaves, happy with his handful of pretty seashells.
The salesperson can’t help but connect the silhouette of the little guy to a kitty that really, really wanted some dried fish.
Bai Yao, meanwhile, is currently comparing several different brands of seafood marinara sauces. Mu Mu’er hops over hurriedly, and opens his hands to show off, “Yaoyao, look at Mu’er’s shells!”
These are clearly from the seafood deli. Bai Yao knows his ingredients well enough to identify Manila clams by appearance. They’re not cheap. They may also just be shells with meat, but they’re classy shells with meat.
“Where did you get this?” Bai Yao asks, worried Mu Mu’er just decided to grab these pretty shells without asking.
Mu Mu’er is clearly elated being given free pretty shells, and points to the seafood deli counter, saying, “grandpa gave me those!”
Bai Yao almost bursts out laughing looking there, and clears his throat a few times.
‘Grandpa’?! He means that young guy?
However, the next moment, Bai Yao finds his urge to laugh fade entirely.
That’s because…
…
Doesn’t that guy look just about the same age as he does?
3.
When they make love to each other, Mu Mu’er has taken a liking to biting Bai Yao on the tattoo. His little canines seem to enjoy nibbling on the ‘mountain peak’ part of his tattoo.
Bai Yao looks at him. Is he actually going to be the bad influence that leads the little sea otter down such a path?
1
Recently, Mu Mu’er has been a huge fan of ‘Puss in Boots,’ and keeps negging Bai Yao to play the movie for him… every day. Even when he isn’t watching, he’d be wondering aloud why the cat wasn’t wearing clothes but is wearing boots. Is he also uncomfortable like him when he just learned to anthropomorphise?
Before sleeping tonight, he watches the movie again while sitting in Bai Yao’s lap. He’s still thinking about the orange cat after Bai Yao has brought him into bed.
“He’s so cute. How could he be so cute? Real cats must be even cuter,” Mu Mu’er mumbles, while waiting for Bai Yao to change and hold hands with him to sleep.
Bai Yao only smiles. Still, it must feel good for any cat to know that there is a little sea otter who finds it cute.
“Cute, so cute, cats are cute.”
Finally, he notices Bai Yao’s teasing gaze. He shrinks a little, smiling dumbly, and goes, “Mu’er’s hubby is the cutest!”
He learns soon enough that cats can be pets. He starts pestering Bai Yao to get one as a pet.
Bai Yao, though, abhors cats. Perhaps it’s because he’s a snow leopard, and is distinctly repulsed at the idea of having another cat around.
“Cats? No cats. They literally sneak up everywhere. And they’re easily scared, arching their backs and leaping from something like a dropped ashtray,” Bai Yao refuses, “no cats.”
Mu Mu’er doesn’t continue pleading, but just keeps looking up at Bai Yao with a pitiful look in his eyes, resembling the little hungry sea otter that Bai Yao first met.
“Mu’er… wants to ruffle fur,” he thinks, and tries to be persuasive, “does Yaoyao not want to ruffle fur?”
Bai Yao ruffles Mu Mu’er’s head instead, “not really. I already have you.”
Mu Mu’er is still blabbering on about a cat right up until sleep. He’s even thought of a name already – Yaoyao Jr., for it will be another fluffy Yaoyao.
Bai Yao, completely defeated, decides to try something. He transforms himself, and leans his head towards Mu Mu’er, for him to ruffle fur as much as he likes.
However, this clearly backfires when Mu Mu’er sees him and pushes him aside.
“Not this cat. Mu’er wants the cat in boots.”
2
During the National Day holidays, there have been a lot more customers than usual. That’s why, when the next free weekend rolls around, Bai Yao takes Mu Mu’er out to the city to order new replacements for his utensils and whatnot. They also go check out the supermarkets before going back to town.
While Qiaohai’s general store is quite well-stocked, it still can’t compare to the department store in the city with three floors above ground and three more floors under. Before he met Mu Mu’er, he usually just orders online, but he’s happy to bring Mu Mu’er to the city nowadays and shop in person. And also, visiting Mu Yi if they have time.
Given the crowds, though, Bai Yao has to hold Mu Mu’er’s hand quite tightly to keep him close to him where he can see.
The large supermarket has a great variety of spices. Bai Yao finds the sauces there, and grabs a random bottle of raw soy sauce off the racks to check.
He’s formed a habit of explaining himself to Mu Mu’er whatever he does, and he thus mentions, “this soy sauce would be good for soups. It’s not too dark in colour, and appears to be just salty enough.”
Mu Mu’er isn’t interested in this topic, though, and simply ‘mmhm’s his way through.
In fact, his eyes are currently glued to the big counter with all the fishes there. While Bai Yao is distracted comparing condiments, he sneaks over to look at all the oysters, scallops, tiger prawns and whatnot.
The mollusks are placed in front of the fish tanks, all of them appearing quite fresh and vibrant in colour, like sunken treasures.
The salesperson is quick to come and chat him up, “we have a discount on the Japanese scads today, they’ll taste great both fried and grilled if you want some.”
Mu Mu’er hears him and looks. Trying to be polite, he first greets him, “hello, grandpa.”
After that, he moves his attention over to the clams he was just looking at. The shells are so pretty – black, white and some dark green stripes. He’s never seen them in the oceans before.
The poor young man manning the seafood section felt like he was being insulted, but he can also see the silly boy just staring at the clams, and mumbling, “seashells…”
… Is he just a hungry brat or what?
He finds himself being reminded of Bambi of all things when he sees how bright and clean his eyes look.
He must be have been raised well, but for some apparent lack of common sense, perhaps.
So the salesperson asks, uncharacteristically patient, “would you like any?”
“Mu’er doesn’t need any,” Mu Mu’er shakes his head, “Mu’er is only watching.”
He knows that things in the outside world needs to be paid for in money. Bai Yao has money, but he does not, and he doesn’t want to trouble Bai Yao to buy these for him. They are going to buy snacks later, so even if he wanted them, he cannot say.
The salesperson nods, then heads to continue serving other customers; there’s a woman here to buy four catties of clam, but she appears unhappy with the guy’s pick. She picks through the clams and claims that the few she picked out are already rotten, throwing them back into the tank.
After she’s gone, the salesperson quickly examines the clams. They’re obviously not rotten, but simply don’t look as fresh or pretty.
He throws them into the trash without a second thought.
Mu Mu’er has been paying attention to both, and was really eyeing for that bag of little seashells that woman bought. Then he also saw the clams thrown away.
“Why throw them…” Mu Mu’er mumbles, “why throw away… the pretty things…”
The guy has been working at the supermarket for years, and it’s the first time someone has ever called the ruined seafood ‘pretty things.’ He can’t help but look him up and down.
Mu Mu’er continues mumbling, “if you don’t need it, can you give it to Mu’er…”
Finally, the guy realises he might not be the brightest in the head. Still, he’s pretty handsome and pure in appearance as it were. A lot of people would probably feel a protective instinct over him.
As if possessed, the guy retrieves those clams from the bins, washes them clean several times over, before handing them over to Mu Mu’er.
“You are giving this all to Mu’er?! Thank you grandpa! May your body be well forever!”
Mu Mu’er leaves, happy with his handful of pretty seashells.
The salesperson can’t help but connect the silhouette of the little guy to a kitty that really, really wanted some dried fish.
Bai Yao, meanwhile, is currently comparing several different brands of seafood marinara sauces. Mu Mu’er hops over hurriedly, and opens his hands to show off, “Yaoyao, look at Mu’er’s shells!”
These are clearly from the seafood deli. Bai Yao knows his ingredients well enough to identify Manila clams by appearance. They’re not cheap. They may also just be shells with meat, but they’re classy shells with meat.
“Where did you get this?” Bai Yao asks, worried Mu Mu’er just decided to grab these pretty shells without asking.
Mu Mu’er is clearly elated being given free pretty shells, and points to the seafood deli counter, saying, “grandpa gave me those!”
Bai Yao almost bursts out laughing looking there, and clears his throat a few times.
‘Grandpa’?! He means that young guy?
However, the next moment, Bai Yao finds his urge to laugh fade entirely.
That’s because…
…
Doesn’t that guy look just about the same age as he does?
3.
When they make love to each other, Mu Mu’er has taken a liking to biting Bai Yao on the tattoo. His little canines seem to enjoy nibbling on the ‘mountain peak’ part of his tattoo.
Bai Yao looks at him. Is he actually going to be the bad influence that leads the little sea otter down such a path?
