TGMNDIAR - 24
When he woke up this morning, Bai Nian felt that his human form was not very stable. His two ears drooped on top of his head, and his tail couldn't be retracted.
Rubbing his eyes, Ye Ye said, "Good morning... Daddy..."
Bai Nian also patted his head and replied, "Good morning, Ye Ye. It's time for breakfast."
Pointing at his ears, Ye Ye said, "...Daddy, ears, they're out."
"Yeah, Daddy knows," Bai Nian also hugged the boy. "Let's brush your teeth first, okay?"
"Okay..."
It was Saturday, and Bai Nian didn't have to go to work, so he stayed at home. Ye Ye played at home in the morning, but as soon as it was noon, he happily ran next door.
Bai Nian didn't follow. His tail and ears still couldn't be retracted, so Kadou delivered desserts and lunch instead.
Click…
The door made a slight noise, followed by a knock. Someone next door opened the door, and the next moment, all sounds were cut off by the automatic door.
Bai Nian pursed his lips as his furry ears brushed against his cheeks, covering his eyes.
His expression couldn’t be seen.
Bai Nian's leisure activities were actually quite boring. Besides making desserts and meals in the kitchen every day, he would work on sketches. The former was a daily necessity, while the latter was for work, neither of which could be considered truly relaxing pastimes.
But for Bai Nian, leisure activities were about relaxing the mind, being in a comfortable environment was enough.
Bai Nian was used to being alone and knew how to be alone.
He stopped drawing after an hour, finding his efficiency too low. Bai Nian decided to take a break and find something else to pass the time.
What to do... His eyes glazed over, and involuntarily, another person's figure came to mind, causing his breath to hitch.
Sure enough, he still cared a lot about that floppy-eared rabbit that Ye Ye mentioned.
–
Ye Ye crawled forward at the doorway, but Xu Mu in the room paid no attention, his focus entirely on the screen. The holographic simulator activated beside his ear, the surrounding environment blurred by 95%, leaving only 5% to listen to the real sounds—occasionally, Nades would find him to discuss some matters.
[Xu: I have no objections, it's up to you guys.]
This was a multi-person transaction, as the name suggests, with several wealthy individuals pooling money together to form a team. There were more than just Xu Mu accompanying them to play, so everyone had their own style, requiring consultation and cooperation.
With the wealthy individuals providing enough funds and the atmosphere among the companions harmonious, they all pursued the belief of making money, focusing solely on the results.
[dhh: I'm in.]
[Xing Pu: I'm in too.]
[HaHaHa: Alright, brothers, let's go!]
Xu Mu followed the majority, his arms crossed as they moved along the edge of the cliff. Suddenly, he felt his left foot become a bit heavy.
"Daddy..." a childish voice chimed in.
—Case solved.
Since the new instance hadn't refreshed yet, they could only wander around the area. Xu Mu semi-managed the character's body in the game, slightly lowering the degree of blurring to restore some sensation to his real-world body.
"What's wrong, Ye Ye?" Xu Mu scooped up the boy, sitting him down next to the plush rabbit he was warming up with in his arms.
Ye Ye lowered his head, staring at the plush rabbit in Xu Mu's arms, and then let out a cry, vigorously patting it.
Xu Mu was startled. "What's wrong? Are you acting as a wild wolf?"
Ye Ye puffed his cheeks. "Just hug me, but... you want to hold it too. Daddy's bad!"
Xu Mu barely understood his meaning, feeling both amused and exasperated. "Okay, okay, I won’t hold both."
Ye Ye added, "It's ugly, Daddy is more good looking!"
“Hmm, you're right,” Xu Mu realized, feeling helpless. "But how can you compare it to Brother Nian... these two are completely different species."
Ye Ye continued to pat the plush rabbit, and Xu Mu's brow twitched. That was quite a strong hit; fortunately, the plush was an inanimate object.
"Alright, Ye Ye, boys should also learn to be gentle. Don't bully Xiao Zhong." Xu Mu lifted the plush rabbit high, preventing Ye Ye from hitting it.
Ye Ye looked angrily at Xu Mu, his short arms stretching out in vain.
He snorted and crawled out of Xu Mu's arms with both hands and feet. "Bad Daddy."
Xu Mu: "...Alright, I've become a bad dad."
As Ye Ye sat on his toy train and left the room, Xu Mu reminded Nades to keep an eye on him.
"Understood, Master."
Xu Mu continued playing games, only bothering with nutrient fluid for sustenance from noon until evening.
During this time, Nades informed him that Ye Ye had returned home, to which Xu Mu simply responded with a hmm.
They were one step away from completing the final level.
[HaHaHa：Xu and I will go west to distract the old witch, while you take the opportunity to steal her red potion]
[Xu：Use the Zihuan cannon as a signal]
[Xing Pu：Got it]
With a swift move, Xu Mu narrowly avoided a swipe from the witch Bolei's staff, rolling on the ground to evade it.
As the witch realized her lookout tower had been climbed, she returned in a rage, her pointed hat drooping and her hair standing on end, clearly furious.
Xu Mu clicked his tongue lightly. This game was incredibly detailed.
Knock, knock, knock— Nades knocked on the door.
"Master, the doorbell is ringing."
Xu Mu, still in a disheveled state from crawling out of the haystack, was getting ready to join his teammates ahead.
Was Ye Ye back?
"You go answer the door and take good care of our guest," Xu Mu instructed.
"Alright."
[HaHaHa：Quick, the one with the blue hair, go up!]
[Xu：Alright]
[To or to not to：Victory is within sight—]
[ling：Damn, why did we encounter the White Cloud Monster again? Such bad luck!]
[To or to not to：Damn it, the horn was blown too early]
"Mr. Bai is here, Master," Nades announced as he opened the door and ushered Bai Nian in, dutifully playing his role as the butler.
Xu Mu's entire focus was on the game, simultaneously warning his teammates to watch out for the Blood Scythe in the trap and talking with Nades.
"Mm... I know, it's Brother Nian, right? You—" He suddenly froze, turning his head in utter surprise.
He wanted to stand up, but shouts from his teammates in the game interrupted him.
"Hold on, damn it, why did the second-level boss appear too?!"
Xu Mu was torn between standing up and sitting down.
Bai Nian lowered his gaze, slowly walking in. "Ah Mu, are you playing a game? It's okay, continue playing, I won't disturb you."
"Okay, Brother Nian, please have a seat," Xu Mu said as he moved aside, reducing the virtualization effect, and everything around gradually became clearer.
Bai Nian stared at the lop-eared rabbit in Xu Mu's arms, his lips pursed even tighter.
The young man held the rabbit tightly, only half of its ear and part of its head visible, which was covered with dense fur. His hand kept stroking the fur on its head affectionately.
Xu Mu was oblivious, his eyes still fixed on the virtual map beside him as he instructed Nades, "Nades, please make a cup of tea."
"Yes, master."
"Brother Nian, please sit." Xu Mu deliberately shifted to the right, leaving a large space.
Bai Nian hesitated, feeling that the distance between him and the other person had increased somehow. His eyes never left the lop-eared rabbit, and the muscles around his lips twitched slightly.
——So good.
Did Xu Mu like this kind of obedient rabbit that let him touch it without resisting or struggling?
"Mr. Bai, here's your tea." Nades's movements were swift.
"Okay, thank you." Bai Nian took a sip and set it down.
[Xing Pu: Damn, isn't he blind? How can he still chase after me?]
[Hahaha: Nerves of steel, the big boss has a keen sense of smell.]
[Xing Pu: ***!!! So infuriating, I might just let him force me to uninstall my equipment.]
[Xu: I found a skill bug, when his health bar decreases momentarily, he pauses and swings his arms. That's when you can try to knock the enhancement lotus out of his hands.]
[Dude: Here we go, three, two, one! Let's do this!]
[Xing Pu: Damn, it really worked.]
[Hahaha: Awesome!!!]
Xu Mu breathed a sigh of relief, grabbed the plush rabbit in his arms tightly, and reached for its warm tail along its back, internally celebrating in his heart
"Ah Mu."
"Mm? What's wrong?" Xu Mu tilted his head slightly.
"You didn't touch today's dessert or lunch, do you not like them?"
"Oh, it's not that. It's just that gaming sessions are too long, and there's too little rest time. So, I just drink nutrient solution to keep going."
Mainly because the other players were too dedicated, refreshing even in the middle of the game to discuss tactics.
One person can't carry the whole team, but when several people are together, they can really make things happen.
Seeing everyone chatting fervently, Xu Mu felt embarrassed to mention going offline for a meal, as it would seem unprofessional.
"Oh, I see..." Bai Nian lowered his gaze and said softly, "I thought you might be tired of eating the food I made, Ah Mu."
"No, it's delicious, I wouldn't get tired of it." Xu Mu said without hesitation.
Bai Nian also smiled faintly, "Is that so?"
"Mm."
Bai Nian remained silent.
Xu Mu asked again, "At first, I thought it was Ye Ye who came back, I thought that maybe he hadn't played enough in the afternoon. I didn't expect it to be Brother Nian, I was shocked..."
Bai Nian continued to stare at the lop-eared rabbit in Xu Mu's arms. He wanted to see what it looked like, but Xu Mu seemed to be fond of it, holding it tightly and unwilling to let go.
"Do you want some egg tarts?" Bai Nian suddenly spoke up, "They just came out of the oven and are still hot."
Xu Mu was taken aback, "What?"
"I came over to ask if you wanted some egg tarts. Ye Ye insisted on having some, and I accidentally baked too many."
"Oh, okay, I'll have some later," Xu Mu said, "My hands are currently occupied, I'll have them after the game ends—"
A savory and crispy pastry of the egg tart was suddenly pressed against his lips, its surface slightly golden brown, emitting a sweet fragrance of milk.
"Let me feed you," Bai Nian said casually.
Xu Mu froze, then quickly got up, saying, "No need, no need, I'll do it myself."
At the same time, the plush rabbit in his arms fell onto the sofa.
Bai Nian glanced over nonchalantly, and for some reason, a thought crossed his mind: ‘He doesn't seem to care much, he easily just left them behind…’
His hand continued to offer the egg tart, but as he focused, he realized that this lop-eared rabbit seemed... familiar?
No, this didn't seem to be a real lop-eared rabbit.
It was... a plush toy?!
Bai Nian couldn't believe it, and Xu Mu was already frozen in place.
First, he tasted the savory flavor of the pastry, followed by the smooth and creamy taste of the custard filling. Mechanically, he bit into it and swallowed bit by bit. Soon, the egg tart was almost finished, and then—
Xu Mu's Adam's apple bobbed, soft fingers slid over his lips, feeling different from the food. On impulse, he lightly licked them.
Bai Nian was lost in thought by the realization that the lop-eared rabbit was just a plush toy that his mind drifted in thought for a while. When he finally realized the egg tart was finished, he slowly withdrew his hand.
He thought about his speculations, doubts, and discomfort from last night, and it all seemed like a dream now, absurd and laughable.
His emotions surged, up and down, and Bai Nian's fingertips curled, feeling a wave of heat spreading from his tailbone.
Oh no! His expression changed abruptly as he realized his tail seemed to want to reveal itself.
Bai Nian quietly rose from his seat, intending to change his position and suppress his tail, but it seemed to have a mind of its own, joyfully wagging as if it wanted to come out.
Meanwhile, Xu Mu was distracted and unable to concentrate, even on the game.
His teammates' constant calls and shouts for cooperation filled his ears, and he clenched his jaw, trying his best to coordinate.
Feeling restless, Xu Mu's hands couldn't help but search for the plush rabbit.
First, he touched its head, then along its back, until he reached its tail, which he grasped in his palm and began to fidget with aimlessly. He scraped his nails against the tail, then started to pinch it, and finally moved to caress and curl the tail's tip.
Bai Nian widened his eyes, his cheeks gradually flushed, and his waist trembled like a sieve. His teeth chattered, and a tingling sensation shot down his spine, making him unable to resist hunching his back.
"Xu Mu!" He couldn't bear it any longer and shouted out.
Xu Mu's hand trembled, and he let go.
The next moment, his ears were filled with his teammates' passionate shouts: "Faster! Attack! Charge at him, take down the big boss! Victory belongs to us!"
Xu Mu straightened his posture, his eyes fixed unwaveringly as he executed a series of rapid maneuvers, causing the faceless big boss to slowly collapse.
He breathed a sudden sigh of relief.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A few loud sounds rang out—
In Xu Mu's ears, the fireworks of victory sounded as the level was cleared.
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