4
It’s always been a habit of Bai Yao’s to drink coffee every morning, which only entrenched itself even more after he quit smoking for good. He’d feel weird all day long if he didn’t have any.
This morning, Mu Mu’er decides to sleep in, only waking up after Bai Yao has long finished breakfast, and needed a separate one. Bai Yao has his coffee in hand as he watches Mu Mu’er eat.
He’s thinking about adding more seats to the restaurant. The customer traffic has reached a new peak just recently, and looks to climb yet further. The wait times have reached over an hour from what he could gather, and so additional seats would immensely improve customer satisfaction – even though it’d strain his cooking speed even further. Can he handle cooking even more alone?
Before he can get a conclusion, Mu Mu’er is already finished with his breakfast and is now looking at his hands – or rather, the coffee he’s holding.
He notices Bai Yao looking at him, and quickly asks, “Mu’er can try?”
Bai Yao himself drinks coffee without milk or sugar, and is used to the bitterness, which to him is more of a unique taste than bitterness, by now.
Since he just wants a taste, Bai Yao gives him his cup without thinking much.
Mu Mu’er has always wanted to try this really black drink Bai Yao drinks every day. It must be something so tasty for him to keep drinking some. With cup in hand, he gladly makes a big gulp…
… And his eyes slam shut from the bitterness. He’s sticking his tongue out, seemingly overwhelmed.
Bai Yao chuckles, and takes his coffee back to finish it.
After cleaning up the kitchen and dishes, he makes a special sweet chocolate cappuccino for Mu Mu’er. It consists of an almost minute amount of espresso with lots of sugar, milk and also melted chocolate within, plus a large dollop of whipped cream above.
When he takes the drink outside, he sees Mu Mu’er organising small tomato seeds he’s received from auntie Zhang recently. It’s for him to make a small farm in spring.
Still, it’s too cold right now. They ought to wait a few weeks more, at least.
Bai Yao hands over the cup while ruffling the boy’s hair.
“For Mu’er?” He takes it only after Bai Yao nods, “thank you Yaoyao. What is it?”
Bai Yao helps put the seeds back in the container, “it’s coffee, but sweet. Try it and see if you like it.”
When Bai Yao has put away the bag, he looks only to find Mu Mu’er not drinking, but licking the cream with this giddy expression instead.
His little red tongue peeks out to roll up some cream back into the mouth. Then he’d smack his lips and do it some more.
Like a slow-mo version of cats drinking milk.
When he gets to the coffee, the heat warms the colour of the little guy’s lips somewhat into a darker red. There is some cream that’s stuck near the boy’s lips, too. The scene excites Bai Yao to no end. He really wants to drag him over right now, and lick the cream off his lips, and to kiss him.
Mu Mu’er is still licking the coffee when he notices Bai Yao looking, and gives him a big smile, “Mu’er likes this.”
That smile is all that is needed to push Bai Yao over the edge. He confiscates the cup and rolls the guy into his lap.
Mu Mu’er seems saddened his cappuccino was taken, “Mu’er’s… wasn’t finished.”
“You can have it later. Give me some kisses first.”
Mu Mu’er plants a few noncommittal kisses while still looking at the cup to the side longingly. What a poor little sea otter he is.
He doesn’t want kisses now. He just wants his sweet cappuccino.
This triggers enough sympathy nerves in Bai Yao to keep the other kisses for later, returning the cup to the little guy, who forgets about Bai Yao immediately to continue his cream-licking savouring.
Bai Yao has never thought the first time he’d feel jealous as a boyfriend would be against a cup of cream cappuccino.
5
Mu Mu’er handles most meal delivery now.
Bai Yao plates and would instruct Mu Mu’er which table to take it to, as long as the dish isn’t a soup or something served blisteringly hot.
The little guy is quite capable of delivering stir-fried meals or simple desserts, and enjoys his job of helping out in his ‘home’ he shares with Bai Yao. He’s happy to help out with something important.
When he started out, he was shy and could only ever say ‘enjoy your meal.’ That’s the phrase he uses no matter what happens when he delivers food.
Therefore, some time later, when a customer wanted to ask him for a refill, Mu Mu’er was spooked by the sudden calling of ‘waiter,’ that he just went ‘enjoy your meal!’ in response.
The customer was understandably confused.
Of course, there are those that would not treat him kindly. He doesn’t need to worry, though, because the big snow leopard named Bai Yao has his back. He’d tell Bai Yao, going ‘Yaoyao, they were rude. They should not have their meal quickly! Do it last!’
Still, thankfully, over time, Mu Mu’er has been able to become more accustomed to his role. He is able to talk generally without shying away, and he can even remember the names of dishes customers wants to add sometimes, repeat it again and again as he walks into the kitchen, in order to tell Bai Yao.
Of course, not all dishes are equally easy to remember.
Right now, Mu Mu’er is about to return after a meal delivery, but the customer calls out, “mister, can we get an extra roasted sea cucumber dressed in spring onions?”
Mu Mu’er quickly nods and returns with a face like he’s on a sacred duty. Towards the kitchen, he continues mumbling so he does not forget – ‘roasted sea cucumber dressed in spring onions, roasted sea cucumber dressed in spring onions, roasted sea cucumber dressed in spring onions…’
In the kitchen, as soon as he sees Bai Yao, he calls out, “spring onions! Yaoyao dressed in roasted sea cucumber!”
4
It’s always been a habit of Bai Yao’s to drink coffee every morning, which only entrenched itself even more after he quit smoking for good. He’d feel weird all day long if he didn’t have any.
This morning, Mu Mu’er decides to sleep in, only waking up after Bai Yao has long finished breakfast, and needed a separate one. Bai Yao has his coffee in hand as he watches Mu Mu’er eat.
He’s thinking about adding more seats to the restaurant. The customer traffic has reached a new peak just recently, and looks to climb yet further. The wait times have reached over an hour from what he could gather, and so additional seats would immensely improve customer satisfaction – even though it’d strain his cooking speed even further. Can he handle cooking even more alone?
Before he can get a conclusion, Mu Mu’er is already finished with his breakfast and is now looking at his hands – or rather, the coffee he’s holding.
He notices Bai Yao looking at him, and quickly asks, “Mu’er can try?”
Bai Yao himself drinks coffee without milk or sugar, and is used to the bitterness, which to him is more of a unique taste than bitterness, by now.
Since he just wants a taste, Bai Yao gives him his cup without thinking much.
Mu Mu’er has always wanted to try this really black drink Bai Yao drinks every day. It must be something so tasty for him to keep drinking some. With cup in hand, he gladly makes a big gulp…
… And his eyes slam shut from the bitterness. He’s sticking his tongue out, seemingly overwhelmed.
Bai Yao chuckles, and takes his coffee back to finish it.
After cleaning up the kitchen and dishes, he makes a special sweet chocolate cappuccino for Mu Mu’er. It consists of an almost minute amount of espresso with lots of sugar, milk and also melted chocolate within, plus a large dollop of whipped cream above.
When he takes the drink outside, he sees Mu Mu’er organising small tomato seeds he’s received from auntie Zhang recently. It’s for him to make a small farm in spring.
Still, it’s too cold right now. They ought to wait a few weeks more, at least.
Bai Yao hands over the cup while ruffling the boy’s hair.
“For Mu’er?” He takes it only after Bai Yao nods, “thank you Yaoyao. What is it?”
Bai Yao helps put the seeds back in the container, “it’s coffee, but sweet. Try it and see if you like it.”
When Bai Yao has put away the bag, he looks only to find Mu Mu’er not drinking, but licking the cream with this giddy expression instead.
His little red tongue peeks out to roll up some cream back into the mouth. Then he’d smack his lips and do it some more.
Like a slow-mo version of cats drinking milk.
When he gets to the coffee, the heat warms the colour of the little guy’s lips somewhat into a darker red. There is some cream that’s stuck near the boy’s lips, too. The scene excites Bai Yao to no end. He really wants to drag him over right now, and lick the cream off his lips, and to kiss him.
Mu Mu’er is still licking the coffee when he notices Bai Yao looking, and gives him a big smile, “Mu’er likes this.”
That smile is all that is needed to push Bai Yao over the edge. He confiscates the cup and rolls the guy into his lap.
Mu Mu’er seems saddened his cappuccino was taken, “Mu’er’s… wasn’t finished.”
“You can have it later. Give me some kisses first.”
Mu Mu’er plants a few noncommittal kisses while still looking at the cup to the side longingly. What a poor little sea otter he is.
He doesn’t want kisses now. He just wants his sweet cappuccino.
This triggers enough sympathy nerves in Bai Yao to keep the other kisses for later, returning the cup to the little guy, who forgets about Bai Yao immediately to continue his cream-licking savouring.
Bai Yao has never thought the first time he’d feel jealous as a boyfriend would be against a cup of cream cappuccino.
5
Mu Mu’er handles most meal delivery now.
Bai Yao plates and would instruct Mu Mu’er which table to take it to, as long as the dish isn’t a soup or something served blisteringly hot.
The little guy is quite capable of delivering stir-fried meals or simple desserts, and enjoys his job of helping out in his ‘home’ he shares with Bai Yao. He’s happy to help out with something important.
When he started out, he was shy and could only ever say ‘enjoy your meal.’ That’s the phrase he uses no matter what happens when he delivers food.
Therefore, some time later, when a customer wanted to ask him for a refill, Mu Mu’er was spooked by the sudden calling of ‘waiter,’ that he just went ‘enjoy your meal!’ in response.
The customer was understandably confused.
Of course, there are those that would not treat him kindly. He doesn’t need to worry, though, because the big snow leopard named Bai Yao has his back. He’d tell Bai Yao, going ‘Yaoyao, they were rude. They should not have their meal quickly! Do it last!’
Still, thankfully, over time, Mu Mu’er has been able to become more accustomed to his role. He is able to talk generally without shying away, and he can even remember the names of dishes customers wants to add sometimes, repeat it again and again as he walks into the kitchen, in order to tell Bai Yao.
Of course, not all dishes are equally easy to remember.
Right now, Mu Mu’er is about to return after a meal delivery, but the customer calls out, “mister, can we get an extra roasted sea cucumber dressed in spring onions?”
Mu Mu’er quickly nods and returns with a face like he’s on a sacred duty. Towards the kitchen, he continues mumbling so he does not forget – ‘roasted sea cucumber dressed in spring onions, roasted sea cucumber dressed in spring onions, roasted sea cucumber dressed in spring onions…’
In the kitchen, as soon as he sees Bai Yao, he calls out, “spring onions! Yaoyao dressed in roasted sea cucumber!”
