Chapter 37: This is for Mr. Mu
A 22-inch suitcase lay open on the floor in front of Yan Gui Xing. The entirety of 27-year-old Mu Mu’s belongings were unceremoniously displayed.
On the left were several clothes, clearly worn for a long time but meticulously clean.
On the right was a small pillow, a milk-fleece blanket with a border collie print, and a palm-sized star-shaped nightlight on top of the blanket.
Compared to Yan Gui Xing’s study, the embroidered sofa, or even the short-pile carpet under the suitcase, the suitcase and its contents were a pathetic pile of rags.
Yan Gui Xing remained silent, his gaze calmly assessing the contents. Just as Achi thought Yan Gui Xing would have him close and take the suitcase away, Yan Gui Xing moved.
He suddenly stood up, crouched in front of the suitcase, picked up the faded light blue short-sleeved shirt at the top, examined it, and placed it on the coffee table behind him.
After examining the few other pieces of clothing, Yan Gui Xing turned his attention to the star-shaped nightlight and the blanket Mu Mu had specifically requested.
He first picked up the nightlight, tracing its outline with his finger. Finding the switch, the chubby star emitted a warm yellow glow.
Yan Gui Xing then picked up the milk-fleece blanket and sat back on the sofa.
Without seeming to mind the heat, he draped the blanket over his legs and examined the nightlight with interest, like a child with a new toy.
Mu Mu’s nightlight wasn’t anything special, a very ordinary one from a street vendor.
It was inexpensive, around 30 star coins—a decent lunch cost more.
Mu Mu had bought it with his first paycheck after leaving the orphanage. He’d bought it because he was afraid of the dark.
At the orphanage, his roommates were always careless with the curtains, and moonlight or streetlights would shine into the room. While not brightly lit, it was still quite bright.
But his rented apartment had tall buildings on both sides, blocking most of the light. Mu Mu couldn’t sleep and decided to buy a nightlight.
So, when he received his first paycheck, he saw the chubby star in a crowded shop window and immediately fell for it.
Yan Gui Xing silently played with the nightlight, then suddenly spoke, “Achi, you know, I saw a nightlight just like this when I was little.”
Achi froze for a second, his wandering gaze focusing on the nightlight in Yan Gui Xing’s hand. He replied in a dazed manner, “There were many nightlights like this in the orphanage where I grew up on the Border Star.”
“Really?” Yan Gui Xing leaned back on the sofa, raising his arm holding the nightlight, looking up at the not-so-bright star in the daylight.
“This little thing isn’t special in the Empire, but it’s rare on the No Return Star,” Yan Gui Xing glanced at Achi, shaking the nightlight. “When I was nine years old, a prisoner escaped from the Capital Star to No Return Star.”
“He used one of these to trade with a bounty hunter for a laser gun.”
Achi looked at the nightlight in Yan Gui Xing’s hand in disbelief, unable to believe that a toy was worth a laser gun.
“Don’t believe me?” Yan Gui Xing retracted his hand, turning off the nightlight with a click and toying with it. “I wouldn’t believe it either if I hadn’t lived on No Return Star.”
“But No Return Star is backward, comparable to ancient Earth. Most of the bounty hunters’ weapons are still cold weapons. Laser guns are precious; they cost up to 100 million star coins on the black market.”
“But they’d never seen a star-shaped nightlight,” Yan Gui Xing’s smile was laced with sarcasm. “Rarity is value. That guy held it, turning it on and off like magic. Those hunters thought it was some kind of powerful weapon.”
Achi had never been to or lived on No Return Star and couldn’t relate to the bounty hunters fighting over a toy.
Yan Gui Xing laughed, “Don’t you think they were incredibly stupid?”
Achi honestly nodded, “Very stupid.”
“Very stupid indeed.” Yan Gui Xing smiled, but his sea-green eyes lacked any mirth, dark and unreadable.
Of course, they were stupid. But he wanted it too. He wanted to use this cute star to kill those who bullied his mother and him!
He’d even considered stealing a nightlight from the hunter’s house. If he hadn’t been too young and weak, he would have.
Yan Gui Xing’s smile widened, his tone light. “Achi, do you want to know what happened to the bounty hunter who bought the nightlight?”
Achi: “He died?”
“Wow!” Yan Gui Xing dramatically clapped. “Our Achi has finally gotten smart once!”
Achi’s face flushed, pleading for mercy.
Yan Gui Xing watched Achi’s red face and neck with amusement before continuing, “It’s said he died.”
“That hunter, with his powerful weapon, thought he was invincible and took a mission to assassinate a mid-level insect-type Zerg. He never returned; much later, other hunters brought back his uniform and identification tag.”
Achi didn’t know what to say; not responding seemed bad, and his face flushed. He mumbled, “He was stupid and killed himself.”
Yan Gui Xing shrugged and dropped the subject. He folded the fleece blanket, placing it on the sofa next to him, put the nightlight on top of the blanket, and stood up.
He walked over to the shopping bags, bending down, his right hand on his chin, looking with interest at the dust-bag-protected clothes inside.
Yan Gui Xing thought Achi had bought clothes for himself. He straightened up, smiling at Achi, teasing, “After all these years, this is the first time I’ve seen you buy clothes for yourself. What’s up? Dating someone? Showing off your feathers?”
The redness that had subsided on Achi’s face reappeared. He quickly shook his hands, denying, “I’m not dating anyone, Master, really, I’m not.”
Yan Gui Xing was amused by Achi’s flustered appearance. He clapped Achi on the shoulder, making a loud “slap-slap” sound. “Dating isn’t shameful. You’re at the right age to date.”
Achi wanted to say, What age? I’m only two years older than you! In this interstellar era with an average lifespan of 280 years, he’s in his prime.
So what if he’s not dating? It’s better than you partying all day!
Besides, the unpredictable Yan Gui Xing already drained all of Achi’s patience and energy. Where would he find the time for a partner? All he thought about was retirement.
But Achi didn’t dare say these things. He explained, blushing and stammering, “Master, I didn’t buy these. No, I didn’t buy them for myself.”
Yan Gui Xing continued to tease him, “If not for yourself, then for me? You’ve become quite the ambitious one, sending gifts to your superior.”
Achi’s skin was already dark, and now his flushed face was a striking mix of red and black.
“It’s not for Master either, it’s for Mr. Mu.”
The moment Achi finished saying “Mr. Mu,” the smile on Yan Gui Xing’s face vanished. His usually flamboyant features were expressionless, the intense green eyes giving him a strangely terrifying beauty.
“You… bought… clothes… for my person?”
His usually melodious voice was low, magnetic, but Achi heard the underlying anger.
For a moment, Achi felt like he saw a green-eyed snake flick its scarlet tongue at him.
Cold sweat trickled down Achi’s neck, leaving a wet trail down his spine.
“Achi, speak,” Yan Gui Xing’s crimson lips curled slightly, his voice soft but insistent.
Achi quickly explained, “Master, I just thought you didn’t have suitable clothes for Mr. Mu, and it’s inconvenient for you to take Mr. Mu out, so when Sha Xia and I went to the mall to retrieve the flyer, we picked up a few things.”
Yan Gui Xing stared intently at Achi, then lowered his eyes, a light snort escaping his lips. “You’re quite thoughtful now, why weren’t you this considerate before?”
Achi felt wronged. He served Yan Gui Xing almost like an ancestor! How much more considerate could he be?
Yan Gui Xing crouched beside the shopping bags, picked one at random, opened the dust bag, and took out a neatly folded white short-sleeved shirt, shaking it out. He revealed a disgusted expression at the ugly robot printed on the chest.
He draped the shirt on the shopping bag, took another bag, and revealed a bright yellow overall. The vivid color stung Yan Gui Xing’s eyes.
He opened the third, fourth, and fifth items…looking at the clothes with either bright colors or ugly prints, he looked up at Achi and slowly exhaled.
He had taken Achi to those ridiculously expensive etiquette classes at the Yan family.
Achi had even been more diligent than him in class, and yet…this.
Apparently, even with nurture, aesthetic sense couldn’t always be cultivated.
Yan Gui Xing stood up, clapping Achi heavily on the shoulder. With Achi looking half-terrified and half-bewildered, he said earnestly, “There are two fashion shows in the Capital Star the day after tomorrow. I’ll give you leave; go see them.”
Achi exclaimed, “Master, I don’t understand fashion.”
“Then learn. Watch a lot; you’ll get it eventually.” Yan Gui Xing glanced at the brightly colored clothes, his eyes stinging. He closed his eyes and said, “This is an order! Leave tomorrow!”