Chapter 39: Home
Although Yan Gui Xing said he’d take Mu Mu shopping in a couple of days, Mu Mu had only worn the clothes Achi bought for half a day before Yan Gui Xing found them irritating and wanted Mu Mu to change.
But seeing Mu Mu’s smiling face, he didn’t want to ruin his good mood and swallowed the words, feeling frustrated.
Finally, it was bedtime. On the way to the bedroom, Yan Gui Xing was still figuring out how to coax Mu Mu to change out of those clothes and back into his own shirts.
They were fine during the day, but if Mu Mu wore them to bed, Yan Gui Xing feared he might take his anger out on Achi and beat him up.
However, Yan Gui Xing had forgotten whether Mu Mu wore pajamas to sleep.
Initially, Yan Gui Xing watched Mu Mu go to the bed, take off his shirt, fold it neatly, and place it on the bench at the foot of the bed before bending down to take off his pants.
He didn’t think much of it, assuming Mu Mu was going to take a bath. Sitting on the sofa, he said, “Mu Mu, the bathroom is in the outer room. Take off your clothes in the bathroom; the air conditioner is set low; be careful not to catch a cold.”
Mu Mu, holding his pants, looked at Yan Gui Xing strangely. “Mu Mu just took a bath before dinner; does he need another one?”
Yan Gui Xing exclaimed, remembering that after leaving the home theater with Mu Mu, the military had contacted him, so he let Mu Mu play by himself.
At that time, Mu Mu had mentioned that he was uncomfortable because he was sweaty and wanted to take a bath, so he’d told Xiao Ting to take him to the bathroom.
When he finished his work and arrived at the dining room, Mu Mu was already waiting to eat.
He’d asked Mu Mu if he’d found the bathroom, and Xiao Ting, carrying a tray of food, had answered.
The talkative Xiao Ting, with a QAQ expression and a cute boyish voice, used machine-gun-like speed to complain about his master’s suspicions and distrust.
Yan Gui Xing finally ordered Xiao Ting to shut up, and it obediently obeyed.
He’d already taken a bath; then what was he doing taking off his clothes? Yan Gui Xing looked at Mu Mu questioningly. He knew Mu Mu wouldn’t intentionally try to seduce him.
Even if it was seduction, it wouldn’t be this blatant…
Could it be that he really wanted to sleep?
Since he couldn’t guess what Mu Mu was thinking, Yan Gui Xing decided to ask directly, “Mu Mu, what are you taking your clothes off for?”
Mu Mu replied matter-of-factly, “To sleep. Isn’t it bedtime?”
Yan Gui Xing was stunned for a moment. His mouth responded before his brain could process it, repeating the question. “To sleep? Why are you taking your clothes off?”
“You have to take off your clothes to sleep, or you’ll get the bedsheets dirty,” Mu Mu sighed softly. “Gui Gui, this is common sense, even kindergarten kids know that.”
He spread his hands, expressing helplessness. He unzipped his pants, and the pants, without anything holding them up, smoothly slid down in front of Yan Gui Xing.
Yan Gui Xing, with his years of reckless behavior, considered himself worldly-wise. But honestly, he’d never encountered this situation.
Looking at the openly displayed scene, his eyes went wide, his mind a blank. Yet, the blood in his body was boiling, surging, clamoring.
Mu Mu, the little fool, was oblivious to Yan Gui Xing’s discomfort; finding his pants uncomfortable around his ankles, he kicked his slender legs, freeing them from the pants and stepping onto the colorful carpet.
He bent over to pick up his pants, his back to Yan Gui Xing. Yan Gui Xing’s blood rushed to his face; his pale face flushed crimson. He maintained his composure, turning his head to the side, but his peripheral vision still caught sight of the body bathed in light.
“Mu Mu,” Yan Gui Xing began, only to realize his voice was hoarse.
Mentally cursing his own weakness, he cleared his throat and continued, “If you think your outer clothes aren’t suitable for sleeping, I have new pajamas; you can wear those.”
“Pajamas?” Mu Mu, having put his pants away and about to get into bed, tilted his head to look at Yan Gui Xing, innocently saying, “Mu Mu can’t afford pajamas; Mu Mu always sleeps naked.”
Mu Mu was simply stating a fact, but Yan Gui Xing, somehow, thought of the small blanket belonging to Mu Mu that he had handled earlier.
That blanket, touched by his palm, had been pressed against Mu Mu’s skin countless nights.
More suggestive images surfaced from the depths of Yan Gui Xing’s mind; the unrestrained arousal, fueled by his fantasies, intensified from boiling water to erupting magma.
The dark depths of his eyes under his eyelashes were alarming. Yan Gui Xing, knowing Mu Mu wouldn’t understand and was too far away to see clearly, shamelessly admired the imperfect body.
“Ah,” Mu Mu didn’t seem to find anything wrong with standing naked in front of Yan Gui Xing. Shyness, embarrassment—none of it existed.
They were both men; Yan Gui Xing had what he had. They weren’t subhumans or women; there was no question of molestation.
However, his small face wrinkled; he looked at Yan Gui Xing’s expensive shirt and quietly asked, “Is there a rule in Gui Gui’s house about wearing pajamas to sleep? If so, Mu Mu will follow the rules.”
Yan Gui Xing found this rule amusing. He wasn’t one of the Empire’s old-fashioned aristocratic families; his house didn’t have those kinds of rules.
On No Return Star, let alone pajamas, many didn’t even own proper outdoor clothing. Some even killed and set fire for a warm coat.
Only because his mother was from the middle class of the Capital Star did she pay attention to details others ignored.
And the good habits Yan Gui Xing developed as a child under his mother’s influence had been worn away during his years on the Border Star frontlines.
He only regained them later to maintain appearances when he returned to the Yan family.
Yan Gui Xing beckoned Mu Mu with a finger, like calling a dog. Mu Mu obediently walked to his side, grabbed his wrist, and was pulled into his embrace.
He held the naked little fool, his chin resting on his head, his palm lingering on the smooth skin of Mu Mu’s waist while Mu Mu wasn’t looking.
“My home is Mu Mu’s home too. Continue living as you’re used to; don’t think too much, okay?”
Hearing the word “home,” Mu Mu looked up in surprise, his bright eyes fixed on Yan Gui Xing. “Gui Gui’s home… is really Mu Mu’s home?”
His soft voice was like a piece of ice, falling into Yan Gui Xing’s mind, cooling his overheated brain.
He realized what he had said—that Mu Mu could consider his home his own.
Because of his childhood experiences, the word “home” held a special significance for Yan Gui Xing. He valued his home even more than most.
Even when Yan Gui Xing had loved his past lovers, he never promised they could consider his home theirs.
Yet, he so easily said it to Mu Mu, the little fool.
Even more astonishingly, knowing what he’d said, he felt no regret, no annoyance, no anger.
Instead, he looked forward to Mu Mu’s reaction.
Yan Gui Xing leaned back on the sofa, his hands on Mu Mu’s waist, creating some distance. His sea-green eyes smiled as he nodded.
“Yes, Mu Mu didn’t mishear. This will be your home too.”
Yan Gui Xing’s usually melodious voice was slightly hoarse with desire, tinged with a smile, gentle enough to melt the heart.
The sound, amplified by the hearing aid, reached Mu Mu’s ears and heart.
The child who had lost his home had wandered a long, lonely road. Finally, he had found a home again.
His beautiful almond eyes widened in surprise, then clouded with emotion, making his dark eyes even clearer and purer.
Mu Mu bit his lip, sobbing as he buried himself in Yan Gui Xing’s arms, his thin arms wrapping tightly around Yan Gui Xing’s neck, encircling his heart.
“Waaah, Mu Mu has a home! Mu Mu finally has a home again! Gui Gui, you’re so good, Mu Mu likes you so much! Mu Mu will always like Gui Gui!”
The thin body beneath his hand trembled; tears fell on his neck and collarbone, like a burning brand. Yan Gui Xing frowned, but dismissed it as an illusion.
He scooped Mu Mu up like a child, gently coaxing him as he walked toward the bed.
Reaching the bed, he gently placed the tearful Mu Mu onto the dark blue bedding. Kneeling by the bed, he pulled down the thick velvet bed curtains.
The dark red fabric blocked the warm yellow light and hid the intimacy of the scene.
When Yan Gui Xing got out of bed again, it was 1:00 AM. He put on a black robe, hiding the crimson tooth marks on his shoulders.
The bed curtains weren’t fully drawn, revealing a small gap; even and soft breaths flowed from the tiny opening.
Yan Gui Xing paused, turning back, half his body slipping through the gap. He took the blanket and covered Mu Mu, who was sleeping soundly, hiding the fallen plum blossoms.
His long fingers landed on the plump, red lips, pressing a small dent that elicited a disgruntled murmur from the sleeping man.
Yan Gui Xing smiled and withdrew his hand, finally getting up. He went to the bathroom, removed his robe, stepped into the already filled hot bath, leaned against the edge, and let out a comfortable sigh.
The tooth marks and scratches on his shoulders and back stung in the hot water, but this pain made Yan Gui Xing feel exceptionally good.
For the umpteenth time today, he thought, bringing Mu Mu, the little fool, home was the right decision.