TGMNDIAR - 37
Xu Mu didn't sleep well that night.
The impact on his worldview was too great. Cold snake-like images kept floating in his mind. He woke up and fell asleep repeatedly, tossing and turning until dawn.
Splash—
The water rushed fiercely, washing the inner walls of the sink. Xu Mu cupped some cold water in his hand and splashed it on his face.
His face in the mirror was pale and lifeless, with dark circles under his eyes. A few drops of water slid down, winding down his neck, and finally disappeared.
Like a lifeless plaster sculpture.
Xu Mu wiped his face, the cold water waking him up thoroughly, his blood vessels freezing.
"Master, are you okay?" Nades peeked out.
Xu Mu looked up, "Huh? I'm fine, what's up?"
Nades said, "I received a notification receipt here, showing that you successfully scheduled a face-to-face consultation at Laurent Medical Center."
"Is there something wrong with your health?"
"...You can still receive a receipt." Xu Mu pressed his temples, "It's nothing serious, just getting a checkup."
Nades hesitated to speak, "You've scheduled an appointment with the men's internal medicine... Is it something difficult to talk about?"
The robot cast a discreet glance downwards.
Xu Mu remained expressionless. "Nades, it's not what you think."
Nades said, "Oh, dear master, please don't misunderstand. I didn't mean to imply anything. You know, I am just worried about you..."
Xu Mu impatiently turned Nades head to the left. "I just have a minor issue with my mimicry."
That’s right, after realizing he was a snake last night, although Xu Mu was devastated, he decided to face it squarely. For example: first, see what his real self looks like.
He followed the methods on the StarNet and tried to morph himself, but without success.
Refusing to give up, he tried several times, all of which ended in failure.
Xu Mu suspected that he was an outsider and lacked the innate talent of the natives, so he couldn't comprehend the secrets within.
He began searching frantically on StarNet.
[What if you can't morph?]
Best answer: Infants and children cannot morph, please visit the Department of Reproductive Medicine for treatment.
[What if adults can't morph?]
Best answer: Please visit the Department of Reproductive Medicine for treatment.
So, Xu Mu made an appointment for the next day's consultation overnight.
It was a night consultation with an additional fee.
He was unable to find time during the day due to his full schedule and he had to pick up and drop off Ye Ye, Xu Mu could only choose to go in the evening.
Nades was worried: "Is there an issue with your mimicry that affects that function?"
"...I'm fine, don't overthink it," Xu Mu replied.
Nades didn't fully believe it. Typically, only infants and children could not morph and would visit the Department of Reproductive Medicine for normal examinations, while most adults had issues in certain aspects.
"Alright, I understand, master," Nades said solemnly, it’s black eyes flickering over and quickly away.
Xu Mu's face darkened, and he clenched his teeth. "Nades!"
"Master, would you like a sandwich for breakfast? If not, what flavor of nutrient liquid would you like?" Nades asked.
"..." Xu Mu replied calmly."I’m really fine,"
"Alright, master."
"...” Forget it, Xu Mu thought, and decided not to argue with the robot.
Xu Mu drank the nutrient liquid in silence, ready to leave.
However, there was one thing about snakes—he had a pair of "hemipenes."
In snake form, they weren't visible externally but hidden behind the cloaca.
He put on his shoes absentmindedly, Xu Mu's face remained indifferent, but his thoughts wandered.
According to online information, snakes typically only have one in humanoid form, but if they become semi-mimicry they will have two.
Hmm... he was quite curious about it.
---
"Brother Mu, have a seat!" Luo Haoyu greeted Xu Mu, his eight teeth gleaming perfectly aligned as sunlight almost dazzled Xu Mu's eyes.
"...Act normally" Xu Mu's mouth twitched.
Luo Haoyu sighed and leaned on Xu Mu's shoulder. "I have no choice. Nian Yueyue insists that I must take you down, otherwise—"
He made a comical gesture of cutting his own head off and then slumped onto the table.
Xu Mu remained unfazed and calmly returned to his seat.
Luo Haoyu's personality was somewhat whimsical around people he was familiar with. "Just consider it. Of course, if you really can't, it's okay."
"I'm not very good at acting," Xu Mu replied.
"Ah, it's simple. Just stand there and twist a bit," Luo Haoyu said.
"..." Xu Mu lowered his eyes and opened his light brain. "What's the story of the play?"
Luo Haoyu scratched his chin. "I'm not sure. From what they said, it seems to be called 'A Snake Swallows an Elephant Due to Insufficiency of Heart.'"
"Hey!" Nian Yueyue suddenly popped up from behind. "What are you guys talking about?"
Seeing Xu Mu, she exclaimed, "Brother Mu!"
"...Can we go back to the old way of addressing each other?" Xu Mu asked.
Nian Yueyue giggled. "Sure thing." She pulled the empty seat next to her and plopped down.
Feeling a bit helpless under Nian Yueyue's intense gaze, Xu Mu said, "Class monitor, is there really no one else to play this role?"
Nian Yueyue nodded heavily. "Yeah, not a single one."
Xu Mu fell silent.
Nian Yueyue continued persuading, "Let me tell you, it's easy to play. There's not much to perform, you only need to endure the cold. Ahem, don't worry, we'll put an electric blanket in the bushes for you to crouch on, so you can curl up and stay warm."
She even brought out rehearsal videos from previous main actors and pushed them in front of Xu Mu. "You can take a look to see how easy it is."
Xu Mu glanced over, feeling a twitch at his brow, quickly averting his gaze.
Ugh, what an ugly snake, still in an earthy color.
Thinking about his own mimicry, he took a deep breath. A green color didn't look much better.
Nian Yueyue continued vividly describing, emphasizing how simple and easy the stage play was, ensuring that in the remaining five days, it would only take an hour each time to complete rehearsals.
"...The president has simplified the snake's scenes a lot, but the highlights are still there, which can definitely showcase your handsomeness!" Nian Yueyue exclaimed.
Xu Mu was puzzled. "Shouldn't the story of a snake swallowing an elephant depict the snake as a negative character?"
Nian Yueyue asserted, "It's a new mythology, we've adapted it. The snake is a charming antagonist."
"...Oh."
"Will you consider it?" Nian Yueyue looked at him expectantly. "There’s extra credits!"
Xu Mu paused. "Credits?"
Nian Yueyue, sensing his hesitation, nodded vigorously. "Quite a few, at least enough to cover this academic year's credits."
Xu Mu felt a bit tempted. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "I'll give you an answer tomorrow."
—He needed to see a doctor first, to see if he could learn morphing.
"Alright, take your time to think about it."
---
In the evening, in the kitchen.
"Oh my, I can smell the fragrance even through the screen," Shi Lun leaned in, sniffing. "Your boyfriend is lucky."
He held his chest again, "My Niannian, I miss you so much. How long has it been since I've eaten your cooking?"
Bai Nian was stirring the savory spare ribs in the pan as it sizzled.
He smiled faintly, "You are welcome to my home at anytime."
Shi Lun propped his chin, raising an eyebrow, "Will that be okay? That young college student will probably think I'm a third wheel."
Bai Nian paused for a moment but continued as if nothing happened, "Ah Mu wouldn't—"
"Daddy!" Ye Ye's voice was penetrating. The kitchen was still some distance away from the entrance, but it was still clear to his ears.
Bai Nian's heart tightened at the sound, recalling last night's events. He gripped the spatula tightly and flipped a few spare ribs, causing their surfaces to turn slightly golden brown from the oil.
He slowed his breathing, as if waiting for a familiar voice.
"Daddy..." Yeye trotted into the kitchen and hugged Bai Nian's leg.
"Mr. Bai," Nades followed behind, "because the master had something to attend to, he sent Ye Ye downstairs and asked me to come down to pick him up."
Bai Nian was taken aback, "Where did he... where did he go?"
Nadz replied, "Nades doesn't know. You will have to ask my master."
—Sigh, master, don't worry, I'll keep your secret safe.
Bai Nian lowered his eyelids, "Okay, thank you for your hard work."
"It’s no trouble at all. It's what I should do," Nades bowed politely and then left.
Bai Nian gently patted Ye Ye's head and whispered, "Ye Ye, why don't you go sit on the sofa and wait?"
Ye Ye obediently nodded, "Okay."
Kadou held his hand and led him out of the kitchen, kicking his little legs as he left.
Bai Nian continued to stir the spare ribs, his expression unchanged.
On the other side, Shi Lun frowned, his intuition telling him that something was wrong between his friend and Xu Mu.
He asked thoughtfully, "Niannian, did you encounter any issues with Xu Mu?"
Bai Nian added a spoonful of soy sauce, enhancing the color of the spare ribs even more.
He shook his head and softly replied, "No."
Shi Lun didn't believe him but didn't dare to push too hard to get him to pry his mouth.
Buzz—his light brain vibrated.
Bai Nian used the back of his hand to swipe open the chat notification.
[Xu: Brother Nian, I have something to attend to tonight, so I won't come to your place for dinner. Is Ye Ye home? I dropped him off downstairs, and Nades went to pick him up.]
Bai Nian stared at it for a few seconds, then freed a hand to reply.
[Bai: Okay, I got it. Ye Ye is home.]
[Xu: Heart circle launch Kiss.jpg]
Bai Nian pursed his lips slightly when he saw the Q-version rabbit on the screen, but he was unable to express his feelings.
It made him uncomfortable. He turned off the screen and continued to stir the spare ribs.
Shi Lun observed his reaction and cautiously asked, "Um, did Xu Mu message you?"
"Yeah, he's not coming back for dinner tonight," Bai Nian said calmly.
Shi Lun felt a tingling sensation on his scalp, sensing trouble.
"So, did you guys have a fight?" he asked.
Bai Nian turned off the heat, his tone calm. "It's not really a fight. Maybe I don't understand the way young people date, or maybe we haven't adjusted well yet."
"That's true, it's only been half a month," Shi Lun muttered to himself, as if convincing himself. "There’s no rush, take it slow."
Shi Lun furrowed his brows, his expression becoming more serious. "Niannian, if there's anything bothering you, talk to me. Let's analyze it together. In matters of the heart, sometimes an outside perspective can provide clarity. Perhaps a different perspective will change your approach?"
Bai Nian remained silent for a while, then sighed. "I don't know how to describe it, but there's always something off about being in a relationship with him. It feels like the development is a bit strange. He seems to prefer my mimicry over my human form. All his enthusiasm, hugs, kisses, even his desire to confide, they all seem to only appear when I'm morphed... But even so, last night, he was indifferent even when he saw my mimicry form."
"Wait a minute—" Shi Lun felt overwhelmed, "You guys have already kissed in just half a month?"
Bai Nian was taken aback, "We haven't kissed on the lips, just... he kissed my face, hands, stomach, and stuff like that."
He added, "Only when I'm in mimicry."
Shi Lun squinted, "He didn't kiss your entire body, did he?"
"..."
"I knew it!" Shi Lun chuckled, "It's not that the development is strange, it's just too fast! You've already kissed and hugged, and now you're not used to it?"
Bai Nian remained silent. He didn't dare to mention that some of these things had happened before they officially started dating.
"Are you feeling pressured recently—"
"Shi Lun!" Bai Nian interrupted.
Shi Lun clicked his tongue, "Looks like I hit the nail on the head. With you acting like this, you might just end up in his hands..."
Before he could finish, his eyes widened suddenly, and he trembled as he raised his hand. "Y-you... you haven't already tried, have you??"
Bai Nian blushed slightly, murmuring, "That's not the point. Stop changing the subject."
Shi Lun pinched the bridge of his nose, hating that iron could not become steel. "Bai Nian, oh Bai Nian! What should I say to you? Don't you know a man's nature? It's always best when they can't have it! Can't you be a bit reserved?"
Bai Nian remained silent.
"So you're feeling like Xu Mu prefers your mimicry form over your usual self? And it's bothering you?" Shi Lun asked.
"Yeah..." Bai Nian's eyes dimmed slightly. "I know it's still me regardless, but the contrast is too obvious. Usually, he's very polite and respectful, but his enthusiasm for my mimicry form is vastly different by thousands of miles."
"And... it seems like he's slowly losing interest in my mimicry form too..."
Shi Lun crossed his arms, speaking solemnly, "What you're saying is indeed a problem. After all, the main form of communication in daily life is through our human forms. Mimicry is just a sweet bonus; you can't rely on it to sustain a relationship."
"Ah Lun, I'm afraid he's only with me because of my mimicry form, not because of..." Bai Nian lowered his head, shadows casting over half of his face. "Not because of who I am, you know?"
Shi Lun paused for a few seconds, catching the key word. "Are you saying that he was very fond of your mimicry form even before you started dating?"
Bai Nian hesitated, "Yeah," he said reluctantly. "He really likes rabbits, to the point where it's a bit... obsessive." He swallowed the word "perverted."
Shi Lun: "Hmm... A furry lover, huh?"
"He's more interested in your mimicry form than your human form?"
Bai Nian nodded.
Shi Lun rubbed his chin, "Then you should let him experience the beauty of your human form!"
Bai Nian looked puzzled.
"Just because he likes furry things doesn't mean he doesn't like smooth ones," Shi Lun said seriously. "Be bold. He might be shy when facing your human form, but you don’t talk in your mimicry forms, so he might be more daring."
He continued persuasively, "Of course, I'm not saying you should suddenly strip naked in front of him. Just tease him, flirt with him, arouse him, but keep a distance. Make him unable to resist, understand?"
Bai Nian pondered.
Shi Lun slapped the table, "Alright! Whatever I say, you do it. I'll guide you step by step!"
Bai Nian hesitated, whispering, "Are you sure your method... will work?"
Shi Lun snorted and flipped his hair. "Don't underestimate me. This is a killer move that's been tested by countless men. How could it not work?!"
Bai Nian fell silent.
---
At the medical center
"Mr. Xu, are you feeling alright?" The doctor adjusted his glasses. "Do you need to schedule an appointment with the gastroenterology department?"
Xu Mu looked weary and waved his hand. "No need, this is just…” A physiological problem.
Who knew that he would feel nauseous just by looking at himself in the mirror. He actually vomited!
Snakes were already ugly, and he was panicking at how green he looked.
It was a double critical hit.
"I ate too much," Xu Mu composed his breath and said calmly, his face unchanged. "I'll just take some digestive pills when I get back."
He hadn't eaten anything in the evening, he rushed here at a near life-or-death speed.
"Alright," the doctor nodded. "Do you have any other issues? Any discomfort after morphing? Or feelings of instability, difficulty switching?"
"No, everything's fine," Xu Mu replied.
"Okay, then in the future, try not to stress yourself out too much. Eat when you should, sleep when you should, and keep a calm mindset."
"Got it." Xu Mu had come to the clinic under the guise of academic stress causing psychological imbalance, unable to grasp the method of morphing, and wanting to use instruments for assistance.
After a series of questions from the doctor, Xu Mu fabricated a story brilliantly. Under multiple hints, he finally got onto the device and morphed.
—Only to end up vomiting when he saw himself in the mirror.
With the treatment finished, Xu Mu walked out of the medical center feeling relieved.
His light brain vibrated, it was a message from Brother Nian.
[Bai: Ah Mu, the oven in the kitchen is broken. Can I borrow yours?]
[Xu: Yes]
Just as Xu Mu finished replying, another message popped up.
[Bai: Okay, thanks]
[Bai: When will you be back?]
[Xu: I’m getting ready to head back]
[Bai: Alright]
Xu Mu closed his light brain and looked up. The public spacecraft had just arrived. He walked to the back of the queue and entered the cabin.
Half an hour later...
"Welcome back, Master." Nades stood diligently at the entrance.
Xu Mu nodded and headed straight to the kitchen after changing his shoes, where he saw the familiar figure.
"Brother Nian." Xu Mu called out.
Bai Nian turned around with a gentle smile. "You came back just in time. The cheese bread just came out of the oven."
Xu Mu took off his heavy coat and hung it on the coat rack in the living room, casually saying, "That's good, I'm quite lucky."
Bai Nian wore gloves and brought out a metal tray. The bread had a bright color, with streaks of salted egg yolk sauce winding through, exuding a fragrant aroma of wheat.
He decorated each bread with butter at the opening, squeezing out beautiful patterns resembling flower petals, the amount almost overflowing.
"Ah Mu, have you had dinner?" Bai Nian asked with a smile. "If not, you can have some bread."
"No," Xu Mu replied bluntly, grabbing one. "Thank you, Brother Nian."
Bai Nian's eyes flickered slightly, and he asked softly, "Why didn't you have dinner? Where did you go?"
Xu Mu paused mysteriously for a moment, the sweet cream accompanied by the crispy crust bursting on his taste buds.
"Rehearsal," he took another bite and mumbled, "The school is performing at the Snow God Festival, I had to play a role to save the play, so I have rehearsal after school."
Bai Nian also sat beside Xu Mu on the sofa, slightly tilting his head. "So, does this mean you'll have rehearsals every afternoon from now on?"
"Not necessarily," Xu Mu admitted, "because today was packed with classes, so I used the time after school."
Bai Nian smiled and nodded understandingly, "I see."
He continued to silently watch Xu Mu, his features relaxed and gentle.
The suspended lamp shimmered softly, casting a hazy light on his gray-blue eyes, revealing a tender affection.
Xu Mu averted his gaze, hastening his pace of eating the bread.
It's so strange... he felt uncomfortable sitting, unable to relax his spine.
After finishing, he hurriedly grabbed another piece of bread.
"Ah Mu," Bai Nian called softly.
"Yeah," Xu Mu swallowed, "what's up?"
Bai Nian pointed to his mouth, "There's cream."
"Oh, okay, let me wipe it off." Xu Mu reached for a tissue on the coffee table.
He wiped it hastily, his chin slightly reddened.
"Ah Mu, there's still some here," Bai Nian gestured again.
Xu Mu quickly continued wiping.
Suddenly, the light above dimmed, and a pair of hands rested on his knees, slowly sliding forward, pressing against the inside of his thighs. "There's a spot you missed..."
The black figure approached, the face in Xu Mu's line of sight enlarged.
He froze, locking eyes with the other person.
Bai Nian leaned in, the soft pads of his fingers slowly tracing along Xu Mu's lip line, pausing at the corner of his lips. "There, all done."
He smiled, withdrawing his hand to casually wipe it with a tissue, then sat back down.
Their thighs and knees brushed against each other before slightly parting. Bai Nian leaned back a bit, "Ah Mu, do you want some egg tarts? They should be ready soon."
Xu Mu stiffened, his gaze falling on the hand on his knee.
His long, fair, slender fingers.
Just now—
He grabbed Bai Nian's wrist suddenly, pulling it away, and stood up.
"I'll go check on the egg tarts, I feel like having some."
Bai Nian blinked, it was... different from what Shi Lun had described.
The other person didn't become excited, nor did he try to pull him into an embrace.
So which step went wrong?
0 Comments
Post a Comment