TGMNDIAR - 52
The bathroom light was a harsh, cold white, casting a grayish hue on the walls, like a formless chaos yet to be shaped.
Xu Mu turned on the faucet, and the sound of rushing water filled the air. The sink instantly splashed with clear droplets. His palms, the backs of his hands, and his fingertips glistened. The water swirled in the sink before disappearing without a trace.
“Whew…” Xu Mu splashed his face with cold water, trying to cool down.
But it didn’t work. His face was still burning, his lips were cracked and bleeding, and there was a lingering sense of being strangled around his neck. That fishy-sweet smell lingered in his nose for a long time.
Xu Mu tilted his head slightly in front of the mirror, revealing two red marks on either side of his neck from being strangled.
“Indeed, rabbits are known for their powerful legs, allowing them to catch their prey due to their strong leg muscles…”
After rinsing his mouth, his tongue still felt numb, as if wrapped in something slimy, with a persistent bitter fishy smell that seemed quite absent.
Xu Mu didn’t pay much attention to it and proceeded to wash the blanket.
The washing machine didn’t respond. Unbelieving, he pressed the buttons a few more times.
Still no response.
Xu Mu: “…” Fine, fine, another product failure, just like the water heater.
In a fit of anger, he ordered several new washing machines online, just in case.
The blanket had a large, dark, wet area, and squeezing it would make water drip out.
Should he call Nades to wash it?
No, better not. Xu Mu quickly dismissed the idea, deciding to first wash the affected area and then soak it in water until the new washing machine arrived in the morning.
And this… Xu Mu’s gaze shifted slightly, and he pulled out a piece of black lace from the blanket, damp and crumpled—it was the same one from last time, with straps, cutouts, and lace trim—-
Xu Mu quickly found a basin and started hand washing the blanket. He accidentally poured too much laundry detergent, and the entire basin was filled with white bubbles. After scrubbing it clean, he rinsed it several times.
He carefully spread it out, it should be clean now, right? He wasn’t sure, so he rinsed it again, this time without any bubbles appearing.
—It was clean.
Xu Mu bent down to smell it, the classic scent of soap. But perhaps because he was too familiar with that smell, there was always a lingering sensation in his nose.
…
It was three in the morning.
Xu Mu's mind was racing, and he couldn't sleep at all. He lay in bed, the freshly washed floppy-eared rabbit plush against his cheek, fragrant and soft.
He buried himself into its fluffy belly, he took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his throat, his ears buzzing.
They are dating…
Although he didn't know when it happened, but he and Brother Nian were dating.
The curve of Xu Mu's lips couldn't be suppressed as he cuddled the floppy-eared rabbit, trying to hold back his strange laughter.
When he talks to Brother Nian tomorrow and understands what had happened, he would truly have a boyfriend—
His perfect ideal, the super gentle Brother Nian!!
Xu Mu wanted to run downstairs and shout out his excitement, but that seemed too nerve-wracking, and he didn't want to disturb the floppy-eared rabbit sleeping next to him.
Turning to the side, Xu Mu lifted the blanket covering the rabbit and pressed his face against it.
So soft and fragrant…
"...Grr… Grr…" The floppy-eared rabbit tilted its head, making a slightly low and impatient sound in its sleep.
Xu Mu quickly checked, finding that he was still asleep.
He was worried about waking him up, so he let go.
Unexpectedly, the floppy-eared rabbit rolled over on its own, pressing its belly against his face, its legs kicking lightly, landing in the crook of his neck. Its soft ears brushed against his eyelids, causing a subtle itch.
Xu Mu squinted and sighed softly.
The plush rabbit cuddled up to him on its own, so irresistible. He kissed it slowly, gently stroking its back and head with his hand, feeling an overwhelming sense of happiness.
The floppy-eared rabbit breathed deeply, its arms wrapped around Xu Mu's neck, sleeping peacefully.
Suddenly, Xu Mu remembered something and tentatively reached out to push aside the fur on its belly.
Hiss
It wasn't too bad back then, well, maybe a little.
But now, it seemed more serious than he had imagined.
Xu Mu rubbed his fingers thoughtfully, considering whether to buy some medicine from the Star Network.
The glow from his light brain projection screen shrunk to the size of a phone, with the brightness turned down to the lowest setting.
Because he didn't know which medicine would work best, Xu Mu ordered over a dozen different brands at once, opting for the "Exclusive Express" delivery option for an extra fee. As expected, he would receive them by six in the morning.
Should he buy some other things too, like…
Xu Mu blinked rapidly.
On second thought, he was curious about the difference between what the snake used and what is normally used.
Hiss—so that's how it is.
Xu Mu clicked his tongue in amazement, realizing there was quite a bit of knowledge involved, including different classifications for animals.
He was about to close the page when he accidentally refreshed it, and his shopping cart redirected to a recommended page, displaying various special items.
Xu Mu: "..."
His hand tightened, quickly scanning the page before hurriedly turning off the screen.
He didn't feel like he needed any of those items, after all—
“Hmm…”
Xu Mu froze, touching his own neck, feeling slick. He sniffed his hand.
A strange fishy-sweet taste lingered on his tongue, mixing with the blood at the corner of his lips.
Hmm, definitely didn't need those.
-
When Bai Nian woke up, the first thing he saw was the wind chime hanging on the window.
It felt unfamiliar.
Where was he?
Memories of last night slowly came back to him, every word the young man had said passing through his mind like a whirlwind.
They definitely needed to talk. Bai Nian calmly thought that the best time would have been when Xu Mu wanted to.
Unfortunately, at that moment, he had been worn down to the point of irrationality, like water seeping into sand, just wanting to stick close to the other person.
And those inexplicable tears and nonsensical words…
Bai Nian thought about it and felt restless. But the young man had been very gentle, patiently listening, accompanying him through his turmoil, even if it was strange or illogical rambling, he would soothe him, indulging him.
—The only downside was his delay.
Although Bai Nian understood the other's inability to persist until the final step, but the other party…was just too cautious, taking painstaking efforts, making it really hard to endure.
Bai Nian slowly got up and realized his view was off.
He was too short.
Rubbing his ears, he transformed from his mimicry form into his human form and wrapped himself in a blanket.
He saw a few pieces of clothing piled at the head of the bed. After hesitating for a moment, he picked up the loose black long-sleeved shirt to wear.
It was a bit baggy.
Fortunately, the room was warm enough, so he didn't feel cold.
Bai Nian stepped barefoot onto the carpet, feeling a bit floaty with the first step, lacking sensation.
As he walked out of the room, Nades was in the hallway mopping the floor.
Bai Nian hesitated for a moment, then the robot suddenly stopped and shouted loudly, "Master, Mr. Bai is awake!"
There was a clanging sound, like pots and pans falling to the ground.
As Bai Nian walked out, before he reached the kitchen, Xu Mu rushed out like a gust of wind.
"Brother Nian, good morning!" Xu Mu nervously shouted, "You're up?"
Bai Nian nodded and said gently, "Good morning, Ah Mu."
Reflexively, Xu Mu pulled out a chair for him. Bai Nian sat down and glanced thoughtfully at him.
Xu Mu gave an awkward smile. "My hands… can't stay idle."
"I'll go freshen up first," Bai Nian smiled gently and said, "But, since we didn't go all the way last night, it's not like I can't walk or move my hands—"
His gaze slid down suggestively, "But, next time, you could give it a try."
Xu Mu's throat felt dry, and it felt like a fire was burning inside him.
"I, I'll go bring out the noodles."
Xu Mu fled, leaving Bai Nian amused.
In reality, he wasn't as calm as he appeared. The image of the bewildered young man from last night was still vivid in his mind.
But every word of sincere affection, every kiss planted by the other beside his ear, every droplet of sweat that fell, burning hot, and every declaration of love—all of it was real.
Splash, the sound of water echoed from the bathroom.
Bai Nian spat out the toothpaste foam, the mirror reflecting his side. As he drank the cool water from the rinse cup, he furrowed his brows slightly, feeling a tingling sensation on his cheeks and a slight soreness in his throat.
Indeed, he hadn't been thinking clearly at that moment, actually considering the possibility of taking two...
---
"No green onions, just a few drops of sesame oil," Xu Mu pushed the bowl towards him, "If it's not enough, there's more in the pot."
"Okay, thank you." Bai Nian picked up his chopsticks and started with the tomatoes next to it.
Xu Mu stuffed his mouth with noodles, but his peripheral vision never left Bai Nian.
He took a bite, stealing a glance.
Finally, he couldn't help himself, "How's the taste?"
Bai Nian looked up, smiling gently. "Not bad, better than last time."
Xu Mu's lips couldn't help but curl upwards again.
"Cough, really? Maybe Nades taught me well—" He paused, abruptly changing direction, "It's because Brother Nian taught me well."
Bai Nian chuckled, "Hey, why don't you say you learned well too?"
His tone was affectionate, with a hint of familiar banter.
Xu Mu felt a stir in his heart. "I still think I'm not skilled enough." Otherwise, he wouldn't have been oblivious to their month-long relationship.
He reviewed the events of the night and realized that there were indeed signs of the other's changing attitude and the willingness to change into his mimicry and be intimate.
Bai Nian calmly swallowed his food and gave him a steady look. Then, he smiled lightly, "No, lovers see each other through rose-colored glasses. I think you are skilled."
Xu Mu was momentarily stunned.
He slowly lowered his head and uttered a quiet "Hmm."
Inside his heart, a dance of joy erupted, and for a moment, colorful ribbons exploded everywhere.
Living room.
After finishing breakfast, Xu Mu and Bai Nian sat side by side on the sofa.
Xu Mu felt a bit awkward, his jaw tense.
"Brother Nian..." The words he wanted to say circled his mouth before he swallowed them back.
Bai Nian turned his head, patiently waiting.
After hesitating for a while, Xu Mu only managed to say, "I bought medicine."
Bai Nian's eyelids fluttered slightly, and he replied somewhat unnaturally, "Okay, I know."
Xu Mu stammered, pulling it out from the storage compartment and pushing it in front of Bai Nian.
"The green one can be applied to the lips and inside the mouth, the gray one is for the skin... Your knees are a little bruised, so apply the gray one to the area where the skin is broken on the inside of your thigh. The red one is similar to green, but I heard it's not as effective, so you can try it first..."
Xu Mu started off hesitantly but gradually became more fluent as he spoke.
"That's all," he sighed, "If you don't remember, I'll write it down later."
Bai Nian replied softly, "I remember."
"Good..."
Silence lingered as Xu Mu curled his fingers, tapping on his knee.
"Brother Nian, I, I want to apologize first, and then... Can I ask you, when did we start dating?"
Bai Nian didn't rush to answer. Instead, he asked, "Ah Mu, do you know what it means to give someone a bank card in Nikari?"
Xu Mu shook his head.
"It's a confession."
"...” Xu Mu's mind raced as he inferred the question.
He said, "I'm sorry."
Bai Nian pursed his lips and fell silent.
Feeling anxious, Xu Mu raised his hand and tried to touch Bai Nian's pinky finger.
No response.
"I'm sorry, Brother Nian, I didn't know that giving a bank card meant confessing. That's my fault. At the time, I just felt like I was always freeloading at your place, and I wanted to repay you, but I didn't know how. Money might seem tacky, but it's useful, and it was the best idea I could think of..."
Xu Mu became increasingly anxious as he spoke, laying bare all his thoughts and feelings to Bai Nian's silent profile.
"I really like you, I don't even know when... The initial liking, maybe... it's complicated. What I mean is, it's kind of admiration-like. I think you're really, really good, gentle, brave, good-looking, kind, incredibly patient, shining brightly in your own field, very dazzling. I don't know when I got so fascinated by you... Many times when you unintentionally get close, I become abnormal. My heart beats fast, my arms feel numb and sore, my whole body stiffens, and I just stare at you blankly..."
"Later, I slowly realized that my liking was wanting to be with you, like a couple. I started pursuing you, giving you flowers, inviting you to exhibitions, making excuses to eat supper at your place, all because I wanted to be close to you... The day before yesterday, I even thought I was close to success, because you didn't seem to mind my touches... But last night I found out, it was because there was a misunderstanding between us..."
Xu Mu spoke with a dry mouth, looking expectantly at Bai Nian.
"Okay, I understand," Bai Nian's fingertips trembled slightly as he nodded slowly, "No wonder, sometimes you suddenly become indifferent and distant from me..."
"You were quite intimate with my mimicry, but with my human form you were distant to the extreme."
Xu Mu felt his scalp tingling at this, about to say something when he was interrupted.
"Though it seems like nitpicking and self-inflicted punishment, Ah Mu, tell me honestly—" Bai Nian looked into Xu Mu's eyes, asking seriously, "Do you prefer my mimicry over my human form?"
"Of course not!" Xu Mu immediately denied, "I like you because of who you are, not because of your mimicry's resemblance to a rabbit."
He paused, "Of course, I'm not saying I don't like your mimicry, I also really like it."
"Let me put it this way, I might like someone for their mimicry, but I won't fall for them just because their mimicry is that of a rabbit."
"But you seem to show more enthusiasm towards my mimicry." Bai Nian whispered softly, "Last night, you..."
"Wasn't I enthusiastic enough last night?" Xu Mu was taken aback. He gritted his teeth and pulled Bai Nian over, pushing him onto the sofa armrest.
The window was slightly open, and the faint sound of the wind entered their ears.
Outside, snowflakes were drifting down, gently and gracefully.
"Brother Nian, I like you, and you like me too. Although there have been misunderstandings before, causing us to be on different wavelengths, can we still be in a relationship?" Xu Mu asked.
Bai Nian was taken aback, "Of course we can. I never intended to break up with you. I was just unsure about how you felt. I'm very happy to hear what you said because I like you a lot too. I asked that question because I've been doubting—-"
Xu Mu lowered his head and lightly brushed his lips against Bai Nian's. It was a fleeting touch.
Just a pure kiss.
"I think I owe you a necessary ritual," Xu Mu said slowly, staring at Bai Nian without blinking.
"Brother Nian, I like you. I want to be with you. Is that okay?" he asked.
Bai Nian was momentarily lost in thought before softly replying, "...Yes."
Xu Mu pressed his forehead against Bai Nian's and asked, "Can I kiss you again?"
Bai Nian's eyelashes trembled slightly as he closed his eyes.
Xu Mu held his breath and leaned in, kissing him gently. His lips were soft, with a hint of coolness, like falling snowflakes.
It was silent all around, except for the sound of their thundering heartbeats.
0 Comments
Post a Comment