Chapter 33: It’s Cohabitation
Hearing that Zheng An had found an apartment, Mu Mu felt restless; after ending the call, he excitedly tried to jump off the sofa. Yan Gui Xing, quick and agile, held Mu Mu back to prevent him from hurting his injuries.
“What’s the rush? Doesn’t your chest hurt?” Yan Gui Xing reproached him lightly.
Mu Mu remembered his fractured rib and other injuries; such a sudden movement would surely be excruciating. He stuck out his tongue sheepishly and whispered, “Mu Mu is happy.”
Yan Gui Xing looked at Mu Mu impassively, asking calmly, “Happy about what?”
Mu Mu, still happy about the prospect of a new home, didn’t notice Yan Gui Xing’s displeasure. He leaned back on the sofa, swinging his legs, a smile on his lips, seriously answering Yan Gui Xing’s question.
“An An found a new apartment! Once we rent it, we’ll have a new home and won’t have to live in the small hotel anymore~”
Hearing Mu Mu’s joyful tone, Yan Gui Xing’s mood went from cloudy to stormy. His sea-green eyes darkened, his usually vibrant expression devoid of all emotion, like a lifeless mannequin.
Mu Mu continued to excitedly share his expectations for the new home with Yan Gui Xing—hoping for convenient transportation, a larger room than the last one, and a lower rent.
Remembering the previous landlord’s terrible eviction tactics and hateful face, the smile faded from Mu Mu’s lips; he looked apprehensive, patting his chest and softly saying he hoped this landlord wouldn’t raise the rent unreasonably or bring a group of thugs to evict them.
Yan Gui Xing inwardly sneered. If Mu Mu dared to move out, the new landlord would be even more terrifying.
And Zheng An could be directly evicted from Liuli Star.
Mu Mu spoke for a long time without a response from Yan Gui Xing. He sensed something was wrong and belatedly shut his mouth. He tilted his head, secretly observing Yan Gui Xing’s expression.
Mu Mu wasn’t skilled at reading people, but he was adept at sensing emotions.
Was Gui Gui angry? But why?
Mu Mu didn’t understand. He leaned closer to Yan Gui Xing, tilting his head more dramatically. This time, his gaze was bolder; Yan Gui Xing couldn’t ignore it.
Just as Yan Gui Xing considered speaking first, he felt warmth on his hand. Years of alertness made his muscles tense; his hand clenched into a fist, and his sharp gaze shot over.
He saw a slightly darker, thin hand with delicate veins—like a fledgling bird’s claw—resting on the back of his hand.
It rested so softly and trustingly on his hand. For a moment, Yan Gui Xing felt something soften within him.
Before he could analyze that fleeting feeling, he heard Mu Mu ask in his soft voice, “Gui Gui, are you angry?”
Yan Gui Xing burst out laughing, forgetting the subtle emotions. The hand that wasn’t holding Mu Mu’s pinched his chubby cheek with a little force, pulling it slightly.
He hooked one corner of his mouth, sarcastically saying, “Yes, I’ve been angry for a long time; you’re a little fool for only noticing it now!”
A more astute person would have thought of numerous ways to coax Yan Gui Xing into a good mood.
Even an average person would know not to nod or provoke Yan Gui Xing further at this moment.
But Mu Mu, adding fuel to the fire, nodded honestly, adding, “Why are you angry?”
Yan Gui Xing was no longer angry; he understood that he couldn’t treat Mu Mu like a normal person; he had to explain everything clearly.
For instance, when he was unhappy, he needed to say so directly, instead of using expressions or subtle cues.
Or, if he wanted Mu Mu to comfort him (though he didn’t really want Mu Mu to comfort him; it was a figure of speech), he had to tell Mu Mu directly, and then Mu Mu would comfort him softly.
In a way, the prospect of being straightforward with Mu Mu was a novel experience for Yan Gui Xing, who had been playing mind games since he was young.
Yan Gui Xing moved to avoid Mu Mu’s chest injury, pinched his thin waist, and gently lifted Mu Mu from the sofa with a slight exertion of force. He placed Mu Mu on his lap, sitting face-to-face.
Sea-green eyes met those clear, innocent black eyes. A glint flashed quickly in Yan Gui Xing’s eyes. His straight lips curved slightly downward, forming a subtle but noticeable expression of grievance that Mu Mu could understand.
“Mu Mu didn’t agree to live with me? Why do you want to live with Zheng An again?”
Yan Gui Xing, taking advantage of Mu Mu’s simplemindedness and slow reactions, subtly replaced “temporarily staying at his place to recover” with “living together.”
Poor Mu Mu couldn’t distinguish the difference between the two and, overwhelmed by Yan Gui Xing’s beauty, nodded absentmindedly, agreeing with Yan Gui Xing.
“Oh, right, I already agreed.”
The curve of Yan Gui Xing’s left lip was slightly larger than the right one, but Mu Mu, simple as he was, didn’t notice the change in his smile and worriedly said, “Oh no, Mu Mu forgot just now. What should I do? Mu Mu also agreed to rent a house with An An!”
Yan Gui Xing had just experienced a power struggle over terms of endearment and was now facing another one.
He, a five-star general of the Empire, a ruler of a star, was uncertain about how to approach a simpleton’s choice.
He couldn’t lose to Zheng An! Yan Gui Xing couldn’t accept being Mu Mu’s second choice. He decided to strike first.
“Mu Mu agreed to me first, right?”
Mu Mu nodded earnestly, “Yes, Mu Mu agreed to Gui Gui long ago, to live together with Gui Gui.”
Yan Gui Xing nodded with satisfaction, continuing to coax, “Then what should Mu Mu do about Zheng An?”
Mu Mu frowned in distress, softly murmuring, “What to do? Mu Mu doesn’t want to reject An An. We’ve lived together for a long, long time. Without Mu Mu, An An will be very scared.”
Yan Gui Xing’s smile almost faltered. He thought, what’s so scary about a 37-year-old man living alone?
He’s not a sensitive, delicate subhuman, nor a delicate girl who’s afraid of bad people?!
Even a bad person would avoid Zheng An; poor and ugly, what’s there to rob?!
However, Yan Gui Xing’s composure held; his expression remained unchanged, letting Mu Mu continue.
“But Mu Mu is only one person and can’t be split in two.”
Yan Gui Xing was about to laugh in anger. Did this simpleton think he was some precious treasure, highly sought after, to be divided in half for everyone?
Yes! Mu Mu wasn’t a treasure, but Yan Gui Xing had still schemed to get him.
“But Mu Mu promised Gui Gui first and can’t go back on his word; Mu Mu keeps his promises.” Mu Mu looked up at Yan Gui Xing, asking, “Gui Gui, do you think if I apologize to An An, An An will forgive me? Will he still be friends with me?”
Yan Gui Xing thought, it would be better if he wasn’t friends with this simpleton, making him truly helpless and reliant only on himself.
Of course, Yan Gui Xing wouldn’t say that. He put his arm around Mu Mu’s back, pulling him into his embrace, his arms loosely around him, smelling the scent of his cologne from the shirt Mu Mu was wearing, feigning comfort.
“Since Zheng An is Mu Mu’s good friend, he naturally wants Mu Mu to live well. If he gets angry at you for not being able to live with him, then he doesn’t deserve to be Mu Mu’s friend, right?”
Mu Mu rested his head on Yan Gui Xing’s shoulder, looked up, and earnestly defended Zheng An, “An An won’t; we’re good friends; he definitely wants Mu Mu to be happy.”
Yan Gui Xing: “…” Good, Zheng An was specifically here to annoy him.
“Okay, the matter is settled. Mu Mu, are you hungry? We should go to lunch.”
Yan Gui Xing decided to drop the subject, supporting Mu Mu’s bottom with his right arm, picking him up like a child.
Mu Mu, unprepared, hugged Yan Gui Xing’s neck tightly. Once he was steady, he looked down at the floor, softly exclaiming, “Mu Mu has become so tall~”
The childish words amused Yan Gui Xing, who playfully swayed his arms as if he was about to drop him, causing Mu Mu to let out small gasps; his arms wrapped tightly around Yan Gui Xing’s neck, his body snuggling into his embrace.
In reality, Yan Gui Xing’s grip was steady; Mu Mu’s weight wasn’t heavy for him, but he enjoyed the feeling of Mu Mu clinging to him, unable to let go, completely reliant on him.
The walk from the living room to the dining room usually took Yan Gui Xing two or three minutes. This time, he walked slowly, taking five minutes.
At first, Mu Mu was afraid Yan Gui Xing would drop him.
After a couple of wobbles, he found it fun and giggled, clinging to Yan Gui Xing’s neck.
When Yan Gui Xing put Mu Mu down at the dining table, he was a little disappointed that it was over so quickly.
The matter of apologizing to Zheng An was completely forgotten.
During the meal, Mu Mu finally remembered he’d forgotten something. But when he tried to recall what it was, he couldn’t, and sighed in frustration.
【Author’s Note】: Poor Zheng An shivered violently after putting down his datapad. He never imagined that a poor person like him, struggling to make ends meet, would be targeted by General Yan.